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Author: Lynne Haigh

Fresh Futures Launches Summer Holiday Provision in Huddersfield

Posted on by Lynne Haigh

Fresh Futures is thrilled to announce that we’ve secured funding to run holiday provision, supporting local families and young people during the summer break.

The programme will take place throughout August at Brian Jackson House, in the centre of Huddersfield, and will run Monday to Thursday, from 10am to 2pm. Aimed at 11 to 13-year olds, the sessions are completely free for children who receive free school meals.

Each day, young people will be offered a healthy, nutritious meal, with all dietary requirements catered for, ensuring everyone can enjoy lunch together in a relaxed and inclusive setting.

Our holiday provision is designed to be fun, engaging and supportive, with a wide range of activities planned to keep young people active, creative and connected. These include:

  • Sports and physical activities to get moving and build teamwork
  • Cooking classes and baking competitions to spark culinary creativity
  • Arts and crafts sessions to encourage self-expression
  • Chill Z0ne – Board games and time for socialising and relaxation
  • Weekly access to our onsite cinema installation – a unique way to end the week in style

This new initiative marks an exciting step forward for Fresh Futures as we continue our mission to support children, young people and their families from across Kirklees. We’re passionate about creating opportunities that inspire confidence, promote wellbeing, and help every child thrive.

“We’re incredibly proud to be launching our holiday provision at Fresh Futures,” said Mark Farmer, Chief Executive. “This project represents a step forward in how we support local children, young people and their families, particularly during the long summer break when access to activities and meals can be a challenge. Every young person will receive a healthy meal each day, with dietary needs fully catered for. We’re excited to launch this new project to increase the support we provide for families from across the region.”

Sessions will run Monday to Thursday between 10am and 2pm during weeks commencing 4th, 11th and 18th August. Due to the bank holiday on 25th August, sessions that week will run Tuesday to Friday.

Places are limited to 15 young people and are expected to book very quickly so parents and carers are encouraged to reserve their place for free as soon as possible. To book a place for a young person, please click HERE.

What you can expect from Fresh Futures holiday sessions…

DayMain Activity FocusAdditional Notes
Monday🎯 Sports Tournaments (indoor: Pool, Darts, Dodgeball, Table Tennis – Outdoor: Football, Cricket, Rounders)Arts & Crafts and Chill Zone open in afternoon 
Tuesday🍳 Intro to Cooking (Buy, simple meal prep & eat)Group cooking
Wednesday🏏 Sports Tournaments (indoor: Pool, Darts, Dodgeball, Tennis – Outdoor: Football, Cricket, Rounders)Arts & Crafts and Chill Zone open in afternoon 
Thursday🧁 Bake off day (Cupcakes, Cookies, Biscuits)Bake + decorate + take home or eat at lunch

🖌️plus access additional activities throughout the sessions including…….

🗣️ Hangout Area: music, reading, relaxed social vibe

🎨 Creative Corner: colouring, painting, pottery painting

🎥 Chill Zone: films, board games, card games, internet access

Spotlight On Family Time

Posted on by Lynne Haigh

Fresh Futures Family Time service is a child contact centre which provides multiple levels of support to children and families. The service offers a safe and child friendly space for children to have contact with their relatives. Please see the website for further detail for the levels of support offered: https://freshfutures.org.uk/family-time/

Family Time service works closely with Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS), alongside the Family court arena and accepts private referrals.

The aim of the service is to support children re/establish relationships with a relative where their contact has broken.

Family Time staff pride themselves on listening to the voice of the child and emphasise it, while supporting children and families agree future arrangements. In addition, Family Time supports parents establish and maintain communication in a child focused manner.

Family Time focus on neurodiversity and have recently implemented sensory spaces to better support children. The team have developed their knowledge on ways of working with children and families with neurodiverse needs, focusing on communication, specifically when children are non-verbal.

A high percentage of children who attend Family Time have been exposed to lengthy court proceedings. In 2025, Family Time staff plan to promote the service to external services who work with families, with an emphasis on Family Time being use as early intervention, to hopefully prevent families from applying to the Family Courts.

The Family Time Team includes one service manager and three child contact officers who play crucial roles in facilitating contact between children and their relatives. Additionally, Family Time often have support from students and volunteers.

The team’s primary role is prioritising the child’s physical and emotional wellbeing, supervising contact sessions and providing detailed reports from their observation of Family Time.

Additionally, they tailor unique plans to best support the children and relatives in areas such as conflict management, communication, relationship building and ways to overcome barriers which may be preventing the child’s contact progressing positively with their relative. Family Time reports are confidential documents which make recommendations for future plans for the child/ren which can support judiciary decision making during family court proceedings when developing a child arrangement order.

Fresh Futures hosts its first parents’ evening at Brian Jackson College

Posted on by Lynne Haigh

At Brian Jackson College, we understand that supporting our pupils’ development goes beyond the classroom. A holistic approach — where education is a shared journey between school and home — is at the core of everything we do. Strong, trusting relationships with parents and carers are fundamental to this vision, and our parents’ evenings was a key opportunity to nurture those partnership.

On Tuesday 13th May, the Heckmondwike provision held its first parents’ evening, welcoming families into the school between 4:30pm and 7:00pm. The event provided a dedicated space for parents and carers to speak directly with subject teachers, discussing their child’s academic progress, behaviour, and overall wellbeing. Together, staff and families explored strategies to support learning and identify areas for further development, laying the groundwork for better supporting our pupils and improving educational outcomes.

In addition to subject teachers, key members of the school team were on hand to offer guidance and support. The Attendance Lead and Behaviour Lead were available to address concerns and explore positive interventions. The Nurture and Wellbeing Lead shared details of bespoke support programmes, while our school counsellor offered private appointments, providing advice on mental health services and resources for managing exam-related anxiety — particularly timely for pupils preparing for GCSEs and mock exams.

Our careers advisor also joined the evening, offering drop-in sessions for pupils from all year groups to discuss future pathways, from post-16 education to employment and training opportunities.

The evening was a fantastic success, with 16 families attending — many bringing siblings and other relatives, creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere. It was especially rewarding for the team from Fresh Futures to meet with parents and carers in an informal setting, building meaningful connections beyond the usual school day.

Feedback from parents and carers was overwhelmingly positive. Here are just a few of the comments we received:

“I never thought I’d have a parents’ evening as positive as this —I  can’t believe how far he has come.”

“The change in him at home is massive. He’s back to being my happy son again.”

“I used to have to fight with him every day to get him to school. Now he’s up and ready every morning — no arguments, no meltdowns. It’s amazing.”

“This is the first proper parents’ evening I’ve been invited to. In the past, I was only called in to talk about her behaviour. It means so much to come here and hear something positive.”

A Fresh Futures, we’re incredibly grateful to all the families who attended and helped make the evening so special.

Celebrating 50 Years of Impact: Fresh Futures & Leach

Posted on by Lynne Haigh

As we mark an incredible 50 years of Fresh Futures, we’ve had the pleasure of celebrating this milestone in a truly special way – through a powerful collaboration with local creative leaders, Leach, who helped bring our story to life.

Thanks to their generosity and expertise, a stunning visual timeline now proudly showcases our journey and the positive impact we’ve made across Kirklees and beyond since our founding in 1974. This beautifully designed piece now sits along the ground floor of Brian Jackson House, offering visitors and staff a vivid reminder of the progress and partnerships that have shaped us.

a group of people pose for a picture, in front of a wall decorated with colourful birds and trees. The people all wear orange and yellow hi-vis jackets.
the picture shows a big printing machine, the artwork coming out of the printer is red, but it is not visible what is on the artwork.
Staff and Students from Fresh Futures watching the printing at Leach
the picture shows a woman holding something next to a piece of machinery. There is a man on the left explaining to the woman what to do. In the background, there are a few more people wearing hi-vis jackets and watching the woman.

But this wasn’t just about design and print, it was also a hands-on, inspiring experience for students at Brian Jackson College, who had the chance to visit Leach HQ in Bradley to see the printing process up close. Watching our story literally unfold before their eyes was a moment of real inspiration and curiosity for our young learners.

“Having this timeline displayed at Brian Jackson House is more than just a celebration of our past—it’s a reminder of the values and vision that drive us every day,” said Katie Shephard, Head of Engagement at Fresh Futures. “Our students loved visiting Leach and seeing how design and technology come together. It sparked so many conversations about creativity, careers, and confidence – it was a fantastic experience for them.”

Leach, who kindly donated the design and print work, expressed their pride in being part of this meaningful project.

the picture shows a long hallway, with a window at one end and double doors at the other. It shows the wall which has a red artwork showing different time points like a timeline, with writing and pictures. There is a white radiator in the middle of the wall, the carpet is grey.

“It was an honour to collaborate with Fresh Futures and to help commemorate such an incredible legacy,” said a representative from Leach. “Welcoming the students to our HQ was a highlight – they were curious, engaged, and asked brilliant questions. It reminded us how powerful creativity can be in inspiring the next generation. Supporting this project was our pleasure.”

As we look to the future, this timeline serves not only as a celebration of what we’ve achieved – but as a symbol of the partnerships and passion that will carry us forward.

Here’s to 50 years of Fresh Futures, and the many more to come.

Fresh Futures Open Day Showcases Exciting New Post-16 Provision 

Posted on by Lynne Haigh

Fresh Futures proudly welcomed prospective local stakeholders to its official opening of its Post-16 provision on Wednesday 25th March, marking a significant step forward in its commitment to supporting young people in a safe and nurturing environment. The event was a resounding success, offering attendees a firsthand look at the innovative provision designed to help students gain qualifications and access vocational learning opportunities. 

The day began with a warm welcome from Fresh Futures’ Chief Executive and one of the College’s Governors, who spoke passionately about the vision for the Post-16 provision. Guests were then invited to tour the new facilities, where they had the chance to meet both staff and current students, gaining valuable insight into the supportive and dynamic learning environment. 

the picture shows a man and woman stood facing the camera, they are stood in front of a beige building with a window at the top. There is a orange and white balloon arch that goes around the two people, the sun is out and it looks a pleasant day.
Fresh Futures’ Chief Executive and a college Governor outside the Post-16 Provision

A highlight of the event was the interactive Q&A session with the College’s Headteacher and Head of Post-16 Provision. This session provided an opportunity for attendees to ask questions, learn more about the tailored curriculum, and understand how Fresh Futures helps students build confidence and independence as they transition into the pathway that is right for them, which may be further education, apprenticeships or employment. 

Another standout moment was the opportunity to taste delicious food prepared by students during one of their practical cooking lessons. This hands-on experience highlighted the college’s focus on vocational skills, demonstrating the real-world applications of its diverse curriculum. 

the picture shows a group of people listening to a talk, there is a man stood closest to the camera who is giving the talk and pointing to the equipment. The group look interested. The right hand side of the photo is filled with mechanical engineering equipment displayed for the event.
The Motor Vehicle Classroom at the Post-16 Provision

Mark Farmer, Chief Executive, commented “Everyone at Fresh Futures is exceptionally proud of our new Post-16 offering. We offer holistic support and a safe space to young people who would struggle to thrive in a more traditional education environment. By providing vocational qualifications as well as building life skills and confidence, we are giving the young people who attend our provision the stepping stones they need to move on towards a positive destination that is right for them.” 

Visitors left feeling inspired by the opportunities available at Fresh Futures and impressed by the dedication of the staff and students. The Open Day successfully showcased how the new Post-16 provision empowers young people to thrive academically and personally, setting them on a path to a bright future. 

Volunteer of the Month: February 2025

Posted on by Lynne Haigh

Volunteer of the month is when we get to shout about our amazing volunteers and the, quite literally, life changing work they do to help Fresh Futures run smoothly and effectively.

This month we would like to say a big THANK YOU to Zach who volunteers for Elevate. We caught up with Zach to hear about his Fresh Futures volunteering journey so far…

Tell us a little about yourself: I’m 6’3 and I like to think I’m a little funny

How long have you been volunteering for the charity: I’ve been volunteering since the start of October 2024.   

Explain your volunteering role: I help out wherever I’m needed and I help run the elevate sessions. 

What made you want to start volunteering with Fresh Futures? I’d been coming to sessions myself and wanted to try something new.

Sum up a typical day of volunteering for you: I turn up a little earlier than everyone else to help set up the session. I greet people as they enter the room and then we play some kind of game, normally its Uno no mercy but other times we do arts and crafts or we just have conversations.  

And finally, what advice would you give to people considering volunteering with Futures? It’s about more than yourself, it’s about everyone around you

A poster that says Volunteer of the Month at the top, with some hands reaching up below the title. Under these is a picture of 3 people stood next to a building looking at the camera.

If you feel inspired to become a volunteer like Zach, or if you would like to volunteer in any way for our charity, please contact Lucy on 01484 519988 or [email protected]

Fresh Futures Golf Day – Join Us For A Great Cause!

Posted on by Lynne Haigh

Fresh Futures, a local charity based in Huddersfield, is excited to announce our upcoming Golf Day on Friday 11th July 2025 at the stunning Meltham Golf Club! Known for its beautiful fairways, scenic views, and excellent course conditions, it’s the perfect setting for a fantastic day of golf, networking, and fundraising. Sign up here!

We’re inviting local businesses to book a team and take part in this special event. There are also sponsorship opportunities available, allowing you to promote your brand while directly supporting our vital work with disadvantaged children, young people, and families across Kirklees.

Promotional poster with a QR code to sign up a team for the Golf Day.
Register using the QR code
A promotional poster with sponsorship opportunities at the Golf Day.
Sponsorship Opportunities

The day will begin with delicious breakfast butties on arrival, setting you up for a great round of golf. After an enjoyable day on the course, players can look forward to a hearty meal and a chance to celebrate together. There will also be fantastic prizes on offer, making the competition even more exciting!

Katie Shephard, Head of Income and Engagement at Fresh Futures, shared her enthusiasm: “We’re so excited to be hosting this event at the beautiful Meltham Golf Club. It promises to be a fantastic day, and we can’t wait to welcome teams, sponsors, and supporters. It’s a brilliant opportunity for local businesses to come together, enjoy some great golf, and make a real difference in our community. We hope as many companies as possible will get involved, whether by booking a team or exploring sponsorship opportunities.”

Every penny raised from the event will go towards our mission of empowering young people and their families, ensuring they have access to the opportunities and support they need to thrive.

Whether you’re an experienced golfer or just looking for a fun day out, this is a great way to give back while enjoying a memorable event. Sign up today and help us drive change—one swing at a time!

For team bookings, sponsorship details, or more information, please get in touch with us at [email protected]. 

Let’s make this an unforgettable day for a fantastic cause!

Fresh Futures Fair – open call for stall holders!

Posted on by Lynne Haigh

Do you create or sell artisan products and want to reach a fresh audience and widen your reach? If so, Fresh Futures wants to hear from you!

On Saturday 7th June, Fresh Futures – a Huddersfield based charity – is running a Craft Fair at its head office in central Huddersfield. The craft fair will be part of a wider family fun day, with children’s entertainment as well as food and drink vendors available onsite.

a poster that says Fresh Futures Fair, 7th June 2025 with 3 images of knitting, wreath crafting and pottery.

Fresh Futures is looking for local traders and businesses who would like to host a stand at the event.

Katie Shephard, Head of Income and Engagement, says “We’re excited to be hosting the first ever Fresh Futures Fair this June. We’re hoping it will be a great event for everyone to attend with unique shopping opportunities, combined with entertainment for kids and food and drink vendors attending. The best part is that every penny raised at the event will be directed towards our work supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged children, young people and their families, from across the region.” 

Established in 1974, Fresh Futures is a regional charity that supports vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people, and their families, within Kirklees and surrounding areas.  The vision is for all children and young people to have opportunities for a better life, now and in the future. To find out more about the charity and how you can support its work, visit https://freshfutures.org.uk/corporate-partnerships/

Interested in hosting a stand at the event? Find out more by emailing Katie Shephard on [email protected]. Places are limited and offered on a first come, first served basis.

A poster that calls for stall holders at the fair, email katie.shephard@freshfutures.org.uk for details.

Celebrating 50 Years Of Fresh Futures

Posted on by Lynne Haigh

Fresh Futures, previously Yorkshire Children’s Centre, is a regional charity supporting disadvantaged children, young people and their families in our community. The charity was first set up by Brian Jackson, who was passionate about improving the quality of childcare in the Kirklees area, resulting in the creation of the National Children’s Centre, the charity’s name when it was launched. Since then, it’s services have expanded and diversified to support more groups in the community through four strands of work; education; health & wellbeing; employability & skills and relationships.

A lively outdoor community event on a grassy field, with families and children enjoying activities. A colourful double-decker bus, a white camper van, and a green tent with bunting are visible, along with people sitting on blankets and strolling around. Traditional stone houses surround the scene
A black-and-white photograph of smiling children running towards the camera in front of a decorated double-decker bus with playful illustrations. More children are visible in the background near the bus, which appears to be part of a community event
Photos from Fresh Futures over the years
A colourful and engaging early learning classroom with children playing on the floor with toy trains and blocks. Two adults are working on a craft project at a table. The room is decorated with educational posters, learning materials, and playful decorations

In 2024, Fresh Futures celebrated its 50th anniversary, marking the occasion in various ways, including Brian Jackson House playing host to the Kirklees Top 100 companies event held in June, the launch of a Patron scheme to enable corporates to pledge their support and a World Record attempt – to have the largest collection of erasers!

A group of smartly dressed people, posing and smiling at the camera, in front of a silver and black balloon arch.
Kirklees Top 100 Event hosted by Fresh Futures

Fresh Futures also celebrated many of those involved with the charity, through their 50 faces of Fresh Futures campaign, interviewing those who work for, volunteer for or support the charity throughout Kirklees.

In 2025, we continue to be keen to hear stories from anyone who may have worked for the charity or used any of the services over the last 50 years. Please email [email protected] if you’d like to share your story.

Lucy Jackson, daughter of Brian Jackson, is now a trustee of the charity and shared some memories the family have of her father and the charity. She said: “About 2 or 3 years ago I noticed on social media that there was a sponsored walk from my dad’s charity. Over the years since his death in 1983 I had attended irregular events of the charity, but this felt like an opportunity to chat with some of the staff. I went on the walk with two of my adult children, really enjoyed chatting to everyone about where the charity now was. Since then I’ve been delighted to join the board of Trustees and it’s wonderful to see first how my father’s legacy continues to thrive.”

Other members of the family shared how “it was wonderful to visit recently and see children and parents playing happily together at Brian Jackson House” Fresh Futures don’t boast about what they do – but it’s noticed when parents need their help.”

Brian Jackson’s youngest son, Seth who works for Strange Thoughts, a Patron of the charity. Believes, “It’s lasted, it’s evolved and it’s still making a difference!”.

A word cloud including the words inclusive, unique, heard, remarkable, crucial, families, adventurous, seen, warmth and perseverance.
A word cloud to show how people describe Fresh Futures

With many exciting fundraising activities planned for 2025, Fresh Futures will continue to support children and families in the Kirklees area most in need.

Fundraising can take many forms, visit our Fundraising page HERE for some inspiration. If you would be interested in fundraising for Fresh Futures, please contact the team to find out their plans or suggest your own at [email protected]

Fresh Futures Nominated for Charitable Excellence Award at Yorkshire Choice Awards 2025!

Posted on by Lynne Haigh

We are excited to announce that Fresh Futures has been nominated for the Charitable Excellence Award at the Yorkshire Choice Awards 2025! This incredible recognition is a testament to the dedication, passion, and hard work of the Fresh Futures team over the past year.

Founded by Joanne Maltby and Melanie Malcolm, the Yorkshire Choice Awards celebrate the achievements of inspiring local people and businesses in Yorkshire, recognising their efforts to make a positive impact in their communities. Through adversity and courage, these awards shine a spotlight on individuals and organisations whose efforts truly deserve recognition.

In 2022, Fresh Futures was honoured to be the runner-up in the COVID Heroes Award, highlighting the collective efforts of our team during a challenging time. This year, we’re back in the spotlight, nominated for the Charitable Excellence Award, which was introduced in 2024 to recognise organisations excelling in charity work. The award celebrates not just charitable acts but also innovation, commitment, and the difference made in local communities.

For Fresh Futures, winning the award in 2025 would be a monumental achievement. It would celebrate over 50 years of charitable service and the tremendous impact we’ve had on children, young people, and families in Kirklees.

Katie Shephard, Head of Income and Engagement, shared: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have been nominated for such a prestigious award. The team works incredibly hard throughout the year, and we’re grateful to have our work recognised. We’re all excited for the ceremony and appreciate the support from everyone who believes in the work we do!”

How You Can Help: We need your vote to help us win! It only takes a few seconds, and your vote could make all the difference. Here’s how you can vote for Fresh Futures:

  1. CLICK HERE or visit Yorkshire Choice Awards Voting Page.
  2. Scroll down and click ‘CLICK HERE TO CAST YOUR VOTE’.
  3. In the ‘CHARITABLE EXCELLENCE AWARD’ category, select Fresh Futures from the drop-down box.
  4. Scroll to the bottom, enter your email address, and click ‘SUBMIT’.

The public vote is crucial, so please share this link with your friends and family to help us secure as many votes as possible. Your support could help us shine a light on the heart and spirit of Fresh Futures!

Thank you for being part of this journey with us. Together, we’re making a difference!

#YCA2025