Action Halifax has recently took on running Calderdale Cares. Calderdale Cares is part of a national initiative of Business in the Community, the business-led charity, and is an employee volunteering programme.

Calderdale Cares will make it easier for employers to support their local communities. It will work closely with charities, community organisations and schools, identifying opportunities for employees to share their skills, time and resources... 
 

BUSINESS:

Calderdale Cares member businesses are:

Is your business interested in becoming a member of Calderdale Cares. Through Cares, volunteering opportunities for your employees will be easier and more effective and ensure tangible results within the community. Cares activities support three impact areas of: Education and Young People; Employability Skills and Enterprise; Environment and Community.


Cares enables companies to access:

  • A structured, planned and evaluated volunteering programme

  • Skills development and networking opportunities for employees

  • Stronger and more vibrant communities

  • Increased profile for active companies and community groups


Cares volunteering programmes take the form of:

  • Team Challenges - a challenge for teams to work together on typically over a day. Typical Challenges are: decorating; environmental activities; brightening play areas; creating wildlife gardens; organising a community event.

  • Skills Bank - encourages employees to join Boards of trustees / management committees of voluntary organisations to bring much needed expertise.

  • Partners in Leadership - provides opportunity for business and community leaders to meet up to exchange ideas and perspectives on management.

  • Bespoke Activity - to work round the size, needs and interests of your employees. There is also the annual Cares at Christmas campaign.


For more information or to join Calderdale Cares contact the Calderdale Cares Manager, Jocelyn Hunter on 01422 321028/calderdalecares@actionhalifax.org.uk or Claire Glenholmes, Calderdale Cares administration, admin@actionhalifax.org.uk
 

COMMUNITY:

Community Groups - would you like to register a Cares Challenge or Project? This is a physical, short term project that can include: day trips; picnics; make over days; arts and crafts days; healthy eating days; creating sensory gardens; setting up vegetable plots; decorating; and ongoing environmental projects. Are you looking for a particular skill that business could provide you that would help your group reach its aims and objectives? Many business volunteers have a wide range of skill they can share with you, including: human resources; health and safety; marketing; IT; business planning; people management; and project management.

To register your interest please complete a REGISTRATION FORM and / or a TEAM / INDIVIDUAL form (depending on your need) - you can register more than 1 project! Fill in the details and return to admin@actionhalifax.org.uk

You can read more in the Community Groups Newsletter...

 


CHALLENGES:

Local business employees volunteering under the Cares scheme have made a massive difference in several communities over the last few months:

  • As part of the ITV Clean Up Day volunteers from First, HBOS, Action Halifax and Royal and Sun Alliance cleared the paths and untidy areas around All Souls' Cemetery at Boothtown and went on to lay 20 tonnes of gravel. This now means the graveyard is more accessible to those in the community...

  • A team from HBOS started work on a Sensory Garden at Manor Heath Park. The team dug out and laid several paths which is vital ground-work for the Gardens which are set to open in 2007.

  • Yorkshire Water volunteers organised a Teddy Bears Picnic for families from Homestart.

  • Bradley Woods - the West Yorkshire scout camp - has received help from several HBOS teams  ensuring that beavers, cubs and scouts from across the region have access to the best facilities helping develop young people.

  • Teams from Calderdale College and HBOS have decorated several residents bedrooms and the office at Leonard Cheshire Homes.

 


CARES AT CHRISTMAS:

Cares at Christmas allows companies and individuals to make a difference at Christmas for those most in need.  It could be food hampers, toys, goodie bags, toiletries, even organising a Christmas Party - your support could really count!  A quick word to colleagues, friends and family could bring numerous goodies that could make someone’s Christmas special – and your donation will make such a difference. Cares at Christmas provides a very simple approach to tackling some very difficult problems.  Our programme helps build bridges between organisations and individuals from very different backgrounds.  Often a Cares at Christmas present can be the only gift someone receives all year. To be involved phone Jocy on 01422 321028...

 

DINNER WITH DINOSAURS:

Mega-sourous fun for all the family promoting healthy minds and healthy bodies for all ages, Tuesday 22nd July 2008 at Manor Heath Park - more info soon...