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Author: Rahel Abegas

A Burst of Colour: Kirklees Families Get Creative with Rock Art and Mini Canvases at SEND Event

Posted on by Rahel Abegas

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.

Spotlight on Fresh Futures: Our Rangoli Radio Feature

Mark Farmer (CEO) & Katie Shephard (head of Income and partnerships) for Fresh Futures featuring on Rangoli radio, show presented by Rashik Parmar & Hari Joshi
Posted on by Rahel Abegas
Mark Farmer (CEO) & Katie Shephard (head of Income and partnerships) for Fresh Futures featuring on Rangoli radio, show presented by Rashik Parmar & Hari Joshi

Last week, we had the pleasure of joining Rangoli Radio to talk all about Fresh Futures, our mission, and the work that were doing to support children and young people across Kirklees – and how our partnerships are helping to create brighter futures for the next generation.

Hosted by Rashik Parmar and Hari Joshi, the interview featured our CEO, Mark Farmer, and Head of Income & Partnerships, Katie Shephard, who shared the heart behind Fresh Futures, the challenges young people face today, and the opportunities that can transform their lives.

During the discussion, Mark spoke about the significance behind our name — and how it reflects our purpose.

“Really, that name sums up what we do. We are here to give a fresh future… it’s all about opportunities and fresh futures.”

— Mark Farmer, CEO

Fresh Futures exists to ensure every child and young person has the chance to succeed, no matter their background or obstacles they may face. Whether through education, mentoring, wellbeing support, or community partnerships, our work centres on opening doors and creating pathways to brighter outcomes.

“If (people) can do more, they should do more. That’s why we exist.” added Mark.

Katie shared powerful insights about the role our teams play in supporting young people — not only academically, but holistically.

“Our colleges are wonderful at providing a holistic wraparound support for our young people… we’re not just teachers. We really support them, build their confidence, give them life skills, and give them the ability to thrive in the real world.”
— Katie Shephard, Head of Income & Partnerships

This whole‑person approach is central to our work. Many young people need more than lessons; they need encouragement, stability, and the belief that they can succeed. Our staff and partners work tirelessly to offer exactly that.

Our conversation with Rangoli Radio highlighted just how much can be achieved when communities come together with a shared vision — a vision of opportunity, hope, and positive change.

If you missed the live broadcast, you can listen to the full conversation here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sLKJzN9GCzLb-mGINJJ14P-mPJUyLV9J/view

A big thank you to Rangoli Radio for shining a ‘spotlight’ on Fresh Futures. We look forward to building more partnerships like this in the future.