Calderdale-based community charity reaches milestone anniversary and reveals plans for community-wide celebrations

Local charity, Halifax Opportunities Trust (HOT), recently launched its 21^st birthday celebrations and continues the festivities with a Community Celebration held at the Outback Community Kitchen and Garden, Lightowler Rd, Halifax HX1 5NB, on 15^th June 2023, from 1pm – 4pm.

With delicious home cooked and healthy food prepared by the Outback’s kitchen team and live entertainment that everyone can get involved with, the event is truly a community celebration that not only marks HOT’s milestone anniversary but the community spirit, which Calderdale has in abundance. From a children’s treasure hunt to party themed activities, garden games to honey tasting, the event is sure to be a hive of activity for all. And, with stalls from community partners like Overgate hospice and 51st Pellon Scout Group, as well as from HOT’s delivery teams, there’s something for everyone.

The local-charity and community anchor invites all in the Halifax community to its garden party that aims to celebrate all things HOT with a wide range of activities, including:

• Community partner stalls
• Beekeeping demos and honey tasting
• Delicious food cooked by the Outback team
• Sensory stall
• Garden Games
• Children’s treasure hunt and fun activities
• Live entertainment

The Celebrations will bring together individuals, families and businesses to recognise the impactful work that takes place at HOT, within one of the charity’s key delivery sites.

Alison Haskins, CEO of Halifax Opportunities Trust, comments: “In 21 years Halifax Opportunities Trust has become a well-respected community anchor in Calderdale and has stayed firmly rooted within Park ward. While we have evolved and our ambitions may have changed since official operations began, our purpose has remained the same – to create a vibrant, multicultural and self-sustaining community.

“We’re so proud of how far we have come over the past two decades. From a team of just 14 in 2002 to 180 in 2023 we have truly ‘grown-up’ and, as we embark on our journey into the future, the important connections and knowledge we have gained along the way will be instrumental in continuing to create opportunities for the people of Calderdale.”

While HOT has grown to deliver services throughout Halifax and Calderdale, many of its operations remain based at its flagship site, Hanson Lane Enterprise Centre. Staying true to its roots in Park ward, the Community Celebration will acknowledge the importance of place-based delivery and reinforce its role as a recognised community anchor in the area.

Revd Canon Hilary Barber, HOT’s Chair of Trustees, adds: “HOT has grown in many ways. Our work has diversified to meet community needs and respond to many local, national and global challenges. We couldn’t have done this without our employees, volunteers and Trustees.

“We’re delighted that many of our staff, volunteers and board members have grown with us – some since the very start.  Our birthday is the perfect way to recognise the work of our teams and the individuals who have shown their commitment to the charity over the past 21 years, helping us to build a thriving community together.”

Halifax Opportunities Trust officially began operating in April 2002, continuing the legacy of the West Central Halifax Partnership, making this year the Trust’s official 21^st birthday. It first set out to ‘fly the flag for regeneration’ with the ultimate goal of bringing positive change in Halifax. Today the Trust’s six delivery areas aim to do just that, creating opportunities for a better life and future, reaching around 1,700 people each day.

Join Halifax Opportunities Trust and celebrate Creating Opportunities for 21 years. Register: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/community-celebration-21-year-of-halifax-opportunities-trust-tickets-619107345737 

West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership’s Partnership Board (WY HCP) will meet in public on Tuesday 6 June at 1.30pm via digital technology. The meeting will be livestreamed from wypartnership.co.uk with the recording available on the website after the meeting. The meeting will be Chaired by Cllr Tim Swift, Deputy Leader of Calderdale Council and Chair of Calderdale Health and Wellbeing Board.

The Partnership Board further strengthens joint working arrangements between the NHS, councils, care providers, hospices, Healthwatch, the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector. Together, the Partnership improves health and care of all people living across the area.

The Board is an important group for the Partnership, which covers Bradford District and Craven, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds, and Wakefield District. It brings together elected members, executive and non-executives in one decision making process. Its work aligns to the NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board.

Board members will consider an update for the Partnership’s CEO Lead, discuss dentistry and oral health in West Yorkshire, receive an update on progress made from the recommendations of the Partnership’s Race Review, which is a standing item for the Board and consider joint working arrangements between the NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Working alongside communities, the Partnership Board aims to give people their best start in life with support to stay healthy and live longer. Many factors determine whether someone leads a long and healthy life, including good housing, access to green space, and building an inclusive economy that creates more good jobs, reduces health inequalities, and promotes opportunity for all. These important factors are at the heart of the Partnership Board.

The Board meets in public every three months and gives people the opportunity to ask questions and have their say.  Members of the public will be able to ask a question at the start of the meeting.  All questions submitted will receive a written response after the meeting and will be published on the Partnership’s website.

Members of the public are asked to email their questions to westyorkshire.ics@nhs.net before Monday 5 June 2023 at 5pm – highlighting the question to be asked at the Board. People can also call 01924 317659 to submit questions.

The agenda, papers, and link to watch the meeting live can be accessed from Tuesday 30 May 2023 evening at: www.wypartnership.co.uk/meetings/partnershipboard/papers

You can find out more about asking questions to the Board at:  www.wyhpartnership.co.uk/meetings/partnershipboard/questions

Please come along to the next Illingworth Ward Forum to have your say on local issues.

Thursday 29^th June 2023 at 6pm (for a 6.30pm start) at Illingworth Moor Methodist Church, Keighley Road, HX2 9LL