Light up the winter

Free adult learning courses at Ryburn Valley High School

Guided walk on Rochdale Canal

Ryburn Valley High School – on the lookout for volunteers!

Ryburn Valley Hugh School are needing volunteers interested in gardeing to help out with their new community garden (see article below). If you are interested please contact them as per the instructions at the bottom of the newsletter.

FREE Promotional DVD for local community group

 

Ryburn Valley High School is looking for a ‘client’ group for their  year 13 (Upper 6^th) BTEC Media students.

Their brief is to make a 10 minute film promoting a community group or local charity.

Ideally they would like to invite the groups’ representatives to school before half term (before 15th Feb) to discuss their requirements and they need to complete the project by May half term (Friday 24^th).

This will be completely free to the ‘client’, the students will film at their location and produce the film to a professional standard. They will be closely supervised by staff throughout the project.

If your group is interested contact Karen Allen by email at v@ryburn.calderdale.sch.uk

Mr Wrong and Mr Right

Support for younger carers

• Are you aged between 18 and 25?
• Are you caring for someone?
• Do you need some support?

Calderdale Carers Project is here to help you as a carer!

We offer a range of services especially for young adult carers such as:

• Case Working (Including a home visiting service to identify your needs)
• Activity Sessions/ Support Group
• Access to £250 small grant to take a break
• Emergency Back-Up Plans
• And much much more!

For More Information Please Ring Lydia on

01422 369101 or 07858714068

Also please search for our Facebook Page: Calderdale Carers Project.

* * * * *

And you are also invited to the launch of this project:

The launch event will take place on Tuesday 16^th October from 6.30-8.30 pm in the Bancroft Suite at Calderdale Carers Project, Rimani House, Hall Street, Halifax, HX1 5BD.

The event will include:

• Get to know each other activities
• Brainstorming activity to gather further ideas for the new service
• A handover presentation from the young carers service
• And a pizza buffet!

If you would like to attend or would like more information please contact Lydia on 01422 369101 or email

lydia@calderdale-carers.co.uk

Phoenix Heights – Sowerby Bridge art group

Phoenix Heights Group
Sowerby Bridge Community Working towards Exhibiting your Art
meet on Wednesday evenings (7.00 pm to 9.00 pm)
from 19th September 2012

at Foundry Street Youth Centre
for colour education and preparing your work for exhibiting
all ages and all levels of ability and experience welcome.
£5 per session (concessions available)
Exhibition taking place over the winter of 2012

To enquire or book a place for these or future events
call or text 07974411950 or email phoenixheightsgroup@gmail.com
…or follow the phoenix heights conversation on Facebook

Be good neighbours during flood risk – plea

Calderdale Council is asking people to be good neighbours during the extreme weather conditions in the Calder Valley.

As the Environment Agency issues warnings of heavy rain, the Council is advising people to prepare for possible flooding.

And it is asking householders to check up on neighbours who may be vulnerable, particularly those who are elderly and disabled.

With the worst of the weather expected over the weekend, the Council is advising householders in properties at risk of flooding to move valuable items to upper floors, wherever they can.

The Council’s Head of Housing and Environment, Mark Thompson, has appealed to people to check on their neighbours.

“People in the Calder Valley have already shown magnificent community spirit during last weekend’s floods.

“We’re now asking them to just check on their neighbours and ensure that they are safe.”

Meanwhile, the Council is preparing to respond to any flooding which may occur. The Council has a limited supply of sandbags, which it will be placing at strategic locations to minimise the effects of run-off water from the highways.

The Council’s gully wagons are continuing to check/clear gullies at ‘hot-spots’ throughout the borough.

Schools within the upper valley have been notified of the potential risk and to put their plans in place.

Welfare and recovery operations in the upper valley are continuing so a number of neighbourhood staff will be giving a visible presence.

“We are working with communities to prepare to meet the worst of the weather, should it happen,”

said Mark Thompson.

People who need to contact the Council can do so on 0845 245 6000.

Online weight loss clinic – open til 8th June

If you’re worried about your weight or trying to lose weight, the online clinic on weight loss, run by NHS Choices, is your chance to get expert advice and information specifically about your concerns.

Specialist consultants, dieticians and fitness experts are available to answer your questions on diet and dieting, obesity, nutrition, exercise, fat and health issues related to being over or under weight.

The clinic is in ‘forum’ format, and there is information on the front page helping you to understand how to use it. First of all you will need to register with TalkHealth – you can do this by clicking here. Once you are registered and logged in, you’ll have access to all of the information on the forums.

The online clinic on weight loss, hosted by talkhealth with support from the charity Weight Concern, is open until Friday June 8 2012.

Upcoming online clinics in 2012:

• Skin cancer and sun safety (open now)
• Diabetes (20 – 26 June)
• Dementia (18 – 24 July)
• Fertility and contraception (15 – 21 August)
• Skin conditions (19 – 25 September)
• Mental health (17 – 23 October)

Photography Club- FREE!

Run by professional photographer Bob Collier, Ryburn Valley High School’s photography club is now in it’s 5th season. People who have never used a camera before, or those who want to improve their skills, work with Bob both in school and on location to develop their technique.

This club is very popular and is on Tuesday afternoons 1.30pm-3.30pm for 6 weeks. Bring your own camera and Bob will show you how to take great photos, and use the school computers to improve your images. Beginners or experienced snappers welcome!

Next club starts Tuesday 17th April

To book a place, for transport, or for more information please contact Karen Allen on 01422 832070 or email V@ryburn.calderdale.sch.uk

The Iron Lady – FREE film showing at Ryburn Valley High School

Ryburn Valley High School – Older People’s Film Club

Wednesday 9th May – come along to Ryburn Valley High School at 1.30 (or arrive any time from 12.30 for tea and cake!) to enjoy a free showing of hit film The Iron lady, starring Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher.

To book a seat contact Karen Allen on 01422 832070 or email v@ryburn.calderdale.sch.uk

Click here for a map.

Workshops for community renewable energy schemes

A series of workshops will be delivered in Sowerby Bridge about how communities can set up their own renewable energy schemes. This is a time limited offer so if you are interested please contact Alternative Technology Centre:
Telephone: 01422 842121
Email: info@alternativetechnology.org.uk

Event	Date	Time	Location
Local renewable energy options	Wednesday 14th March	7-9pm	St Paul’s Methodist Church, Sowerby Bridge
Talks and discussion on all the main local renewable energy technologies solar PV and thermal, wind, micro hydro and heat pumps. Refreshments provided.
Financing a community energy project	Saturday 17th March	2-5pm	St Paul’s Methodist Church, Sowerby Bridge
Workshop delivered by Key Fund West Yorkshire
Community share offer – how they work	Monday 26th March	7-9pm	St Paul’s Methodist Church, Sowerby Bridge
Mark Simmonds of Co-operatives UK will deliver a talk about community share offers and the potential for local investment in renewable energy. Refreshments provided.
Tour of New Mills community owned hydro site	Sunday 25th March	All day	Transport provided
Spaces are limited so please book early ring the ATC on 01422 842121 or email info@alternativetechnology.org.uk

Funding for energy efficient measures in Sowerby Bridge and Skircoat Wards

Local involvement in energy efficiency and renewable energy schemes has just been made a little easier by some extra funding for residents in Sowerby Bridge and Skircoat Wards.
Calderdale Council recently carried out a pilot project and a report on how to insulate older properties in Calderdale and this project, delivered by Alternative Technology Centre, supports the findings by funding the installation of some of the measures recommended in the report.
The scheme will enable residents who live in older properties, built from early 1900 onwards to access free or discounted insulation. Advice and information on insulation is available for owners with solid walled or rubble filled cavities.
There is limited amount of funding available and the measures will be offered on a first come first served basis.
Applications are also invited from owner occupiers for special attic bedroom insulation. The attic room must be uninsulated, permanently occupied, and someone in the household must be claiming a means tested benefit. One property will be selected to have this insulation fitted free of charge (subject to survey).

In addition to surveys and insulation schemes a series of workshops will also be delivered in Sowerby Bridge about how communities can set up their own renewable energy schemes. This is a time limited offer so if you are interested please contact Alternative Technology Centre:

Telephone: 01422 842121

Email: info@alternativetechnology.org.uk

Event	Date	Time	Location
Local renewable energy options	Wednesday 14th March	7-9pm	St Paul’s Methodist Church, Sowerby Bridge
Talks and discussion on all the main local renewable energy technologies solar PV and thermal, wind, micro hydro and heat pumps. Refreshments provided.
Financing a community energy project	Saturday 17th March	2-5pm	St Paul’s Methodist Church, Sowerby Bridge
Workshop delivered by Key Fund West Yorkshire
Community share offer – how they work	Monday 26th March	7-9pm	St Paul’s Methodist Church, Sowerby Bridge
Mark Simmonds of Co-operatives UK will deliver a talk about community share offers and the potential for local investment in renewable energy. Refreshments provided.
Tour of New Mills community owned hydro site	Sunday 25th March	All day	Transport provided
Spaces are limited so please book early ring the ATC on 01422 842121 or email info@alternativetechnology.org.uk

 

Ryburn Valley High School – Older People’s Activities – What’s on and how to get involved

 MAKE FRIENDS – LEARN NEW SKILLS – HAVE FUN!

Activities for over 50s at Ryburn Valley High School 
For the past 3 years, we have been sharing our school facilities with older people from the local community.

TRANSPORT
If you need transport to school from Sowerby Bridge, we are now able to use the Elim Church Mini bus for some activities. For a small charge we may be able to pick you up from a central point in Sowerby Bridge and return you to that place after the activity. To book a place on any activity, for transport, or for more information. Please contact
Karen Allen, tel: 01422 832070, or email V@ryburn.calderdale.sch.uk
Film Club – FREE!
Once every half term we show a DVD on our large screen and serve tea and cakes to older members of our community. We have shown a variety of films including ‘Calamity Jane’ and ‘The King’s Speech’. The activity is very popular and our next film on Weds 29th Feb is ‘The Pajama Game’, starring Doris Day. Doors open at 12.30pm for tea and cakes (bring your own sandwiches if you wish) and film starts at 1.30pm.

Photography Club- FREE!
Run by professional Photographer Bob Collier, our club is now in it’s 5th season. People who have never used a camera before, or those who want to improve their skills, work with Bob both in school and on location to develop their technique.
This Club is very popular and is on Tuesday afternoons 1.30pm-3.30pm for 6 weeks. Bring your own camera and Bob will show you how to take great photos, and use our school computers to improve your Images. Beginners or experienced snappers welcome!
Next club starts Tuesday 17th April. 

IT Club – FREE!
Also in it’s 5th season our older people have learned how to use the internet, trace their family tree and create greetings cards. We don’t have a set programme, so if you want to learn how to do something come along and our helpful student volunteers will do their best to support you.
The Club runs for 6 weeks on Fridays 2.30-3.30pm and the next one starts on Friday 24th February.

Intergenerational Learning
We try to encourage our students to work with older people on projects so we are always on the lookout for people with interesting stories to share with our children. If you’d like to be involved in a project of this kind please contact us!

School Plays, Concerts and Performances
If you like going to see live events why not come and see our school Productions? Our matinee performance of ‘Bugsy Malone’ is on Tuesday 21st Feb at 1.30pm. It’s FREE! – Please book in advance as places are limited.

Ryburn Valley High School, St Peters Avenue, Sowerby,
Sowerby Bridge, HX6 1DF

Another great year for Reach Out

Sowerby Bridge’s Neighbourhood Scheme, Reach Out, celebrated their first year of independence and looked to another successful year of healthy and social activities for people over 50 in the area (and beyond).

Guests enjoyed an exercise class demonstration with music selected by the class regulars, a slideshow with some excellent snaps of the past year and a great buffet.

Reach Out would now like to extend their warm welcome to new members and encourage anyone who’d like to try something new and make new friends to call in and join them. A friendly welcome is guaranteed, and a wide selection of activities are on offer, from table tennis to ‘Body Balance’, crafts to computing. Their new programme is currently being compiled and will be posted here shortly, in the meantime, look for Reach Out’s activities on our What’s On page.

Thinking about stopping smoking?

If you’re a smoker, did you know you are 4 times more likely to quit if you use a stop smoking service?

You can call the stop smoking service on 01422 281505 or email help.2quit@swyt.nhs.uk. Or join your local NHS Stop Smoking Group – no appointments necessary and a friendly welcome guaranteed!

• Illingworth every Tuesday morning at Illingworth Methodist Church, off Keighley Road. Come along at 11.15.
• Ovenden every Wednesday to Beechwood Health Centre at 11.15.
• Sowerby Bridge on Wednesdays, 1.00 at New Road Children’s Centre, or on Fridays at St Paul’s Methodist Church at 2.00
• Pellon every Monday at Sunshine Children’s Centre, 1.00
• King Cross every Monday, 4pm at the library
• Rastrick every Monday, 9 – 12 at Field Lane Children’s Centre
• Mixenden every Thursday, 10.30 at Mixenden Outdoors Centre
•  on Thursdays at 4.45 and Fridays at 2pm – appointments only.

Council consultations – all in once place

Did you know that Calderdale Council has a page on its website where you can find all of its current consultations? From libraries to speed limits, service cuts to the Piece Hall, your views are sought to help make decisions about what happens in Calderdale.

You can find a list of consultations by visiting www.calderdale.gov.uk – use the menu on the left to find and click ‘Council and democracy’, then choose the ‘Consultations’ option from the new menu.

…or click this link!

 

Council budget consultation

 

 

One consultation which is going to affect everyone in Calderdale concerns the council’s budget. Here’s the information from the council website:

To make difficult decisions to achieve our savings for the next 3 years, we will:

 

• need to change the way we provide some services
• respond to population changes, for example more people needing care in later life and more children requiring intensive support
• have to charge more to maintain some services
• have to stop doing some things
• consider how our decisions can support jobs and economic growth
• identify how our decisions affect our communities.

 

Let us know what you think

 

Should we:

 

• Maintain our approach to putting the needs of the most vulnerable people first
• For some services increase charges for people who use them
• Widen the role of local community groups and volunteers in running services
• Stop providing some services.

Click here to complete the survey and stand up for the services you believe in.

Reminder – ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ at Ryburn Valley High School

Form a team: Kurling Challenge to start at the Shay!

Form a team for our first joint

Kurling Challenge

 Thursday 24^th November, 2 – 4

at the Shay Stadium Supporters’ Bar,  Halifax

 We want to bring together keen kurlers from our Neighbourhood Scheme groups to compete at the Shay Stadium!

You’ll need four people to make a team and we can help to organise lifts to ensure everyone can get to the Shay. Refreshments are provided. 

Interested? Get a team of friends together, or give us a ring on 01422 393794 and we’ll help form a team for you.

The Shay’s Young at Heart group will be hosting the event, which, if popular, may lead to regular competitive events, and maybe the formation of a Kurling league!