Author: Rahel Abegas

We were proud to welcome our Brian Jackson College parents and carers for a morning of College Post-16 Open Day, and it was wonderful to see so many families attending and engaging with the day.

Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the day a success. We look forward to continuing these conversations and welcoming families to future events!

Fresh Futures is proud to launch Friends of Fresh Futures, a new membership scheme designed to bring local businesses together in support of vulnerable and disadvantaged children, young people and families across Kirklees.

Launching today, the scheme invites businesses to make a monthly contribution of £10, £25 or £50, with every penny going directly into Fresh Futures’ frontline work. These contributions help the charity continue providing vital early help, emotional wellbeing services, education support and practical assistance for families facing disadvantage.

Why Your Support Matters

Across Kirklees, child poverty remains a significant concern. According to the latest ONS local indicators, 33.7% of children in Kirklees are living in relative poverty, a figure far higher than the national average. Poverty affects children’s health, education and long‑term life chances, and the need for early support has never been more urgent.

Fresh Futures has been supporting local families for more than 50 years, and in 2025 alone the charity:

• Supported 11,446 families,
• Reached 7,675 children, young people and families directly, and
• Helped 147 young people access new opportunities, including education, training and employment pathways.

These figures highlight both the scale of local need and the impact Fresh Futures’ services have across the community.

Introducing the Friends of Fresh Futures Scheme

The Friends of Fresh Futures scheme offers three membership levels, each designed to make corporate charitable giving easy, meaningful and rewarding.

Level 1 – £10 per month

• Use of the Friends of Fresh Futures logo & marketing toolkit
• Recognition on our Friends of Fresh Futures webpage
• Social media acknowledgment
• Access to our business offers platform
• Group volunteering opportunities
• Invitation to our Supporter Appreciation Event

Level 2 – £25 per month

All Level 1 benefits, plus:

• Free entry for two colleagues to our bi‑monthly Networking for Good events
• 50% discount on room hire at Brian Jackson House (HD1 5JP) — including meeting rooms, cinema room and large event spaces
• Invitation to our Supporter Appreciation Event

Level 3 – £50 per month

All Level 1 and 2 benefits, plus:

• A personalised bauble as part of our Gift a Fresh Future seasonal campaign
• Tailored sponsorship opportunities (up to £200 value)
• A guaranteed place for a team member in a Fresh Futures fundraising event

A Message from Fresh Futures

Katie Shephard, Head of Income and Engagement at Fresh Futures, said:

“We’re thrilled to introduce the Friends of Fresh Futures scheme. This initiative gives local businesses a simple but powerful way to support vulnerable and disadvantaged families right here in Kirklees. Every contribution helps us continue delivering the vital services that families rely on. We are incredibly grateful to every business that joins us in making a difference.”

Join Us in Creating Brighter Futures

Becoming a Friend of Fresh Futures is an opportunity for businesses to:

• Make a real difference to families in need
• Strengthen their corporate social responsibility
• Connect with like‑minded organisations
• Enhance staff wellbeing through volunteering
• Support a long‑standing local charity making proven impact

Find out more and become a Friend today:
https://freshfutures.org.uk/friends-of-fresh-futures/

Together, we can build stronger communities and brighter futures for children, young people and their families across Kirklees.

Last week we had the pleasure of welcoming the team from Yorkshire Building Society to our charity headquarters for a special visit centred around community support and financial wellbeing.

The team spent time speaking with our staff and community members, answering questions, offering practical money‑management tips, and sharing information about the helpful services they provide.

Many of the people we support may feel overwhelmed by financial decisions, so having a friendly team take the time to explain things clearly made a real difference. It wasn’t about formal financial advice — it was about guidance, reassurance, and empowering people with knowledge.

Their visit is a reminder of what’s possible when organisations come together with a shared purpose. By combining the YBS team’s financial insight with our mission to support the community, we’re helping build stronger, more informed, and more confident futures for the people we serve.

We’re incredibly grateful for their time, their energy, and their genuine commitment to making a positive impact, and we look forward to seeing what our collaboration will look like in the future. 💚🌱

Last week, we gathered a small group of our Out of School Club members and asked them a simple question:

“What’s the best part of Holiday Club?”

We expected a mix of fun answers — and we got them.
Football. Basketball. Dodgeball. Arts and crafts.
The classic favourites.

But then, something lovely happened.

As each child took their turn, their words reminded us of something far bigger than activities. They talked about meeting new friends, feeling safe, being creative, and having a place where they can just be themselves.

In their own natural, honest way, they captured exactly why our team shows up every day.

These moments — the laughter, the friendships forming, the shy confidence growing, the creativity spilling out of them — are the heartbeat of what we do. They’re the reason we put so much care into creating an environment that feels welcoming, inspiring and secure.

This short video is more than a fun holiday project.
It’s a reminder that for many children, the holidays are about belonging — and we’re incredibly proud to provide a space where that belonging thrives.

This is why we do what we do.
This is what drives us.

🎥 Fun fact: every child nailed their part in one take — the kids were absolute stars! The authenticity and excitement carried it all⭐😄

It was lovely to see Carolyn representing Mindful Maker CIC at last week’s SEND event. She welcomed around 18 participants — parents included, for a fun painting activity.

The activity itself went really well, with some many brilliant masterpieces made! While some children found the sensory aspect of paint a little challenging, many others fully embraced it and seemed to really enjoy the process. Seeing such a range of experiences is always a reminder of the importance of creating accessible, flexible creative spaces.

a 10‑year‑old girl who adores painting and crafting spent a long time working at the table. She created four painted stones and even sketched a character. She told Carolyn that crafting helped her feel relaxed and happy — exactly the kind of positive impact we hope for.

The girl also helped translate for her mother, who painted a stone depicting a traditional Ukrainian hut. At the end of the session, both of them kindly stayed behind to help with tidying up, which meant a lot. ❣️

Thank you to Carolyn for hosting such a great interactive session, we look forward to running more activities like these in the future.