Ovenden and Mixenden Initiative

Youth Scrutiny Panel – Mixenden and Ovenden

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Young people from The Mixenden Activity Centre have set up a Youth Scrutiny Panel to try and understand some of the issues young people face in these present times.

Heather Stout, from the Mixenden Initiative, was approached by PC Jonny Ramsden from the Youth Offending Team and asked if she knew of any young people who would be willing to sit on such a group.

After discussions with Marcus Irving from the centre, it was agreed to invite a group of young people, who are already acting as peer mentors, to sit on the panel.

In total 14 young people, aged from 13 to 17, agreed to the task in hand.

The group was originally set up in March and their first task was to meet with PC Ramsden to try and understand why the police carry out Stop and Searches on young people and to gain their insight as to whether they feel they are justifiable or not.

The group met with PC Ramsden (Jonny) at the Youth Offending Team offices where Jonny gave them some examples of real life stop and searches and asked them their thoughts. He also explained about GOWISELY, the mnemonic police officers use before any search of a person takes place. Continue reading →

Sign-Up For Skills Course To Help Your CV Pack A Punch!

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West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has teamed up with Halifax Boxing Club to run an exciting new initiative aimed at the unemployed.

The free, 12 week course hopes to give participants something to put on their CVs that will knockout the competition.

boxing clubIt offers training in skills, such as food hygiene, fire marshalling and how to do a risk assessment, which will appeal to employers across the board, and furnish participants with accredited qualifications.

Meeting for one, three-hour session per week at the club in at Ladyship Mills, Old Lane, Ovenden, there’s always the opportunity to have a go at some sparring too!

The initiative is supported by Ovenden and Mixenden Initiative, as well as West Yorkshire Police’s Neighbourhood Policing Team.

Induction has started for the first cohort of a two year rolling programme, funded through grant money secured from The People’s Health Trust.

Boxing enthusiast, Kyle Scully, has signed up as a summer activity despite having a place secured at Leeds Trinity University in September, and there’s still time for others to get involved.

The 18-year-old, who has recently completed a Btec diploma in sport at Huddersfield New College, said:

“I’m really excited to take part in this initiative. I think this is something different in the community.

“I’m hoping to get an idea of the hazards in the general working environment and what it’s like to be in a situation where you have to think on the spot.”

 

Head Coach at the boxing club, Mick Rowe added:

“This course is not specifically about boxing but the opportunity will be there to get involved in that side of things.

“Boxing gives you confidence, discipline and it a route to good fitness.”

Elements covered during the course are:
• First aid
• Fire/road safety
• Fire marshalling
• Risk assessments
• Manual handling
• Nutrition
• Food hygiene
• Personal safety
• Cyber crime
• Fitness

Anyone who is interested in completing the course can contact Dominic.Furby@westyorksfire.gov.uk or Karen.Scanlon@calderdale.gov.uk

The course is open to men and women and there is no upper age limit.

Lee Mount Clean Up – Reminder

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lee mount clean upIf you live in the Lee Mount area then you may have had a leaflet posted through your door today advertising the community clean up taking place in Lee Mount from 11am to 1pm tomorrow morning.

There will be skips in place at the grass verged area on Wheatley Road (opposite Johal Convenience Store) so if you have a build up of waste you would like to get rid of such as rubbish, wood and furniture, please take the opportunity to bring it to one of the provided skips FREE of charge.

Please note that white goods such as fridges, freezers and ovens will not be accepted.

There will also be a street clean in the area involving volunteers and staff from Calderdale MBC, Ovenden & Mixenden Initiative and the Lee Mount St George Project and the council’s street cleaning vehicle will also be in the area.

Be sure to get involved and help keep Lee Mount clean!!

Clean-ups set to mark the start of spring

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cleanupCommunities across the country have been urged to roll up their sleeves and get behind a nationwide spring clean in order to spruce up our favourite public places to mark the start of spring… read more here…

There will be a number of clean-ups taking place within North Halifax and volunteers are invited to come along and help out at any of the following:

  •  Saturday 21 March 2015 – West View Park clean up –  please meet at the main entrance by the Lodge at 10am – volunteers will be treated to lunch afterwards
  • Tuesday 24 March 2015 – Lee Mount Clean up – With St Georges project, Ovenden and Mixenden Initiative and Council’s SCG team from 11am to 1pm
  • Tuesday 24 March 2015 – Ovenden Ward Forum ‘Focus on Grot Spots’ –  Junior Wardens leading the session to identify grot spots in Ovenden for future clean up action – meet at Dean Field Primary School 6.30pm

Huge success for Public Services Day 2014

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Organised by Ovenden and Mixenden Initiative, the Public Services Day 2014 took place at Shibden Park on Tuesday 30 September and proved to be a big hit for the second year running.

fire serviceJunior Wardens from 4 schools in North and East Halifax were given the chance to get involved and witness first-hand the work that the public services around Calderdale do on a daily basis.

The schools taking part were Ash Green Community Primary School, Mount Pellon Primary Academy, St. Michael and All Angels CE Primary School and Dean Field Primary School.

Public service officers took part from the following services:

  • West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
  • West Yorkshire Police
  • Calderdale Council officers from the Recycling Team, Anti-social Behaviour Team, Community Wardens, Safer Cleaner Greener Team, Countryside Service and Environmental Health
  • Pennine Housing 2000

police van

It proved to be an enjoyable day for the youngsters involved and teachers alike as they buckled up in the driver’s seat of a motionless police van before experiencing what it would be like to have to sit inside the back of one.

There were many more activities and things on display throughout the day including demonstrations of firefighting equipment, a ride on a road sweeper and questions and answer sessions inside the Mereside Centre.

A special mention and thank you goes to Mark Brazil and his team for organising the use of the Mereside Centre at Shibden Park, and for helping to set up the venue and make the outside area secure for the children.

It turned out to be a great day overall and everybody involved played their part in making the event as successful as it was.

Brian Parker, Calderdale Council Anti-social Behavior Officer said,

“What a great day we’ve had, the children were really well behaved and everybody involved played their part in making the event as successful as it was.

“I think these Public Services Days are unique to Calderdale. The whole event is about making the Junior Wardens aware of the people working in their communities every day to make Calderdale a better place for them to live.”

Youngsters take on the challenge in Mixenden

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20140711_154426Pupils from Park Lane Learning Trust Academy and Trinity Academy Halifax went head to head on Friday 11 July in a series of metal and physical challenges at Mixenden Activity Centre.

The MixMatch Challenge day was organised by West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, the Mixenden Initiative, Pennine Housing 2000 and Calderdale Council to promote better relations between youths and local public services.

Non uniformed crews from Illingworth Fire Station, and police officers from Illingworth and Mixenden acted as mentors to the students.

Heather Stout, Ward Link Worker for the Mixenden Initiative said,

“The day way about teenagers seeing beyond the uniforms, and breaking down barriers between youths and public services”

Trinity Academy were crowned the overall winners, and joined police and fire officers for a congratulatory meal at Frankie & Benneys.

Mark Jones, Calderdale District Support Officer for West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, said,

“It was a really positive event which engaged with youngsters in a fun way, whilst also getting across messages about how vital the emergency services and partnership agencies are in their communities”

What A Grand Day at West View Park

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West View Park

The West View Park Family Fun Day that took place on Saturday 31 August was another great success for the third year running, with over 1000 people attending the event throughout the day enjoying many different attractions and the sunshine.

Birds of prey, reptiles, drum performances and belly dancers were just some of the things on display at the park at Highroad Well. 

Organised by Ovenden and Mixenden Initiative, Action for Pellon Community group, Calderdale Council, Mount Tabor Association, Halifax Central Initiative, Churches Together and Local Councillors, a ‘market street’  played host to some 25 local community group and charity stalls.

West View Park2

A grant from the governments Community First Grant Scheme was used to fund the event which aims to bring together all the diverse communities from the Warley and Park wards in celebration. 

Tony King, of the Ovenden and Mixenden Initiative, said;

“It’s basically a fun day and a chance for organisations to promote themselves and raise funds for their causes.

Proceeds from the day will be split between Overgate Hospice, Elland, and the Forget Me Not Trust charity.