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.
Register using the QR code
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!
Within Fresh Futures, we operate three alternative education provision colleges for students who do not thrive in mainstream education.
The colleges are in Huddersfield and Heckmondwike, with the Heckmondwike provision housing the first post-16 centre that was opened in October 2024.
Our post-16 provision is designed to provide a bespoke educational experience that aligns with each student’s unique interests, needs and aspirations for the future.
Highly knowledgeable staff, alongside offering on-site counselling and career advice, aid in ensuring students are ready for work by the end of their time with us.
Student studying at Brian Jackson Post-16 College
Sam, the Construction Teacher at the post-16 provision, said “I am passionate about ensuring young people are knowledgeable and prepared to work in the industry”.
What is offered at the post-16 provision currently?
The curriculum is designed to equip students with practical skills across different fields while ensuring they have a solid foundation in essential academic subjects like Maths and English.
By offering vocational courses such as hairdressing, construction, and food technology, we cover a variety of interests, giving students the flexibility to focus on their strengths and career aspirations.
How can you help?
To enrich the students learning further, we are keen to provide work placement opportunities for the students.
Work placements can really help bridge the gap between theory and practice, giving students the chance to develop hands-on skills in a professional environment.
We are currently looking for work placements in the following settings:
Car Garages
Students interested in motor vehicle maintenance can get hands-on experience with vehicle repairs and customer service.
Building Suppliers
Those pursuing construction skills could gain insight into materials, logistics, and supply chain management in the building industry.
Care Homes
Students interested in healthcare or care work would get exposure to patient care, hygiene practices, and the day-to-day operations in a care setting.
Shops, Food Banks
These placements could teach students about customer service, stock management, and community support roles.
Restaurants, Cafes
Ideal for those studying food technology so they can learn about food preparation, safety standards, and the service industry.
Schools, Nurseries
Perfect for students interested in education, childcare, and social care, helping them gain experience working with children and learning support.
National Highways
Students interested in infrastructure or construction can work on large-scale projects related to roads and transport.
Pharmacies, Medical Centres, Dental Care
Students pursuing healthcare or medicine could get valuable experience in patient interaction, administration, and basic medical practices.
Student in the hair and beauty classroom at Brian Jackson Post-16 College
The construction classroom at Brian Jackson Post-16 College
If I take on a student, what can I expect?
Throughout the placement we will ensure that students are supported while also gaining invaluable experience in a real-world setting. Having regular contact from a staff member is key to addressing any questions or concerns you or the student might have, making the experience more enriching.
You would not be required to pay the students as you’re helping prioritise learning and development.
This is a fantastic opportunity for local businesses and organisations to get involved in supporting the community and helping young people build their careers.
If you can support our post-16 students or you have you a new placement opportunity please do get in touch with Lauren Barber-Harrison on [email protected]or call 01924 408 306.
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.
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.
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:
Scroll down and click ‘CLICK HERE TO CAST YOUR VOTE’.
In the ‘CHARITABLE EXCELLENCE AWARD’ category, select Fresh Futures from the drop-down box.
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!
Finding a fulfilling career can be daunting, especially when lacking confidence and direction. For Libbie, a beauty enthusiast with a passion for beauty therapy, the path forward wasn’t clear. Unsure of how to turn her interest into a career, she turned to Fresh Futures’ Employability Program.
With their guidance, Libbie transformed her passion into a thriving business, Pampered Perfection. Libbie first heard about Fresh Futures’ program through her family. She was unsure of her future, expecting to end up on a different path entirely.
Although she initially expected a formal, classroom-style experience, she was delighted to find an open and friendly environment where her confidence began to grow.
One of Libbie’s biggest initial challenges was overcoming her social anxiety. Nervous around new people and hesitant to speak up, she discovered that the program’s supportive mentors and peers helped her feel more comfortable.
By the end, she had built both friendships and professional connections. “The program gave me so much more confidence,” she recalls.
As she explored career options, Libbie’s passion for working in the beauty industry resurfaced. She received guidance through research assignments, networking sessions, and industry insights from the Fresh Futures team, who helped her see her dream as achievable.
“The best part was having someone to guide me on what to look for and how to get there. I wouldn’t be where I am now without them,” she says.
With this newfound confidence, Libbie took the leap. She began advertising beauty services from home, eventually moving into a professional salon setup in Marsden to meet growing demand.
Today, Libbie owns Pampered Perfection, a beauty business specializing in eyelash extensions and eyebrow treatments, with a loyal clientele and stellar reviews.
The interior of Pampered Perfection
Libbie encourages young adults to consider the Employability Program: “If you’re introverted like I was, just go for it. The informal environment makes it easy to build confidence and could completely change how you see yourself.”
For those inspired by Libbie’s journey, follow her business on social media:
Fresh Futures proudly operates two alternative provision colleges that offer a safe haven for students who’ve found that mainstream education isn’t the right fit and may be facing exclusion.
Located in Huddersfield and Heckmondwike, our colleges are dedicated to supporting pupils with social, emotional, and mental health challenges, giving them the tools they need to succeed.
We’re absolutely delighted to have launched our very first post-16 provision in Heckmondwike at the end of October! At Brian Jackson College, our mission is simple: to create a nurturing, motivating environment where every student can flourish.
Our new post-16 offering is designed to provide a bespoke educational experience that aligns with each student’s unique interests, needs, and aspirations for the future.
Jenny Netherwood, Head of Post-16 commented:
“I am delighted to introduce myself as the Head of the brand-new Post 16 provision at Heckmondwike. The provision will have an official opening later this term and staff are busily preparing for the arrival of the first ever set of learners!”
What Can You Expect from Our Post-16 Vocational Hub?
Our vocational hub offers an exciting range of opportunities. Every student is assigned a personal tutor who they’ll meet with daily, ensuring they always have the support they need.
The College boasts large, welcoming spaces to both study and socialise, creating a genuine sense of community. Our staff, highly trained in their respective fields, are passionate about sharing their knowledge.
Plus, we offer on-site access to counselling, career advice from external specialists, and enrichment sessions that provide a real taste of the working world.
Here’s a glimpse at the courses available at our post-16 vocational hub:
Hairdressing
Barbering
Employability skills
Construction
Food technology
Motor vehicle maintenance
And of course, all courses include essential Maths and English!
What Will Students Achieve with Us?
By the end of their time at Brian Jackson College, students will:
Secure a positive destination—whether that’s employment, further education, or training
Have had their individual needs fully addressed to ensure success
Gain accredited certificates that demonstrate their knowledge and skills
Achieve qualifications in Maths and English (Functional Skills or GCSEs)
Complete entry-level SFLE through enriching experiences
A Chat with Michael Winder – Our Enthusiastic Car Mechanics Teacher
We recently caught up with Michael Winder, our passionate car mechanics teacher, to hear more about his journey:
“At the College, my classroom is a high-octane mix of jokes, hands-on projects, and the occasional misplaced socket wrench. My ADHD means every lesson feels like an adventure—one minute you’re learning about engine timing, and the next we are in a conversation about how tanks are just really big cars with better paint jobs. Dyslexia? No problem. When the textbook gets confusing, I throw it aside and says, “Let’s make our own manual!”
I am excited for this next chapter at the post-16 offering and can’t wait to find my next exciting project—probably trying to fit a jet engine onto a go-kart, with a cup of coffee in hand, of course.”
In 2023, Leeds based publishing company Emerald hosted numerous charity events and raised an incredible £12,252 for Fresh Futures.
Emerald has a passionate team of volunteers who worked to coordinate several varied events that would allow all employees of the company to get involved with the fundraising efforts.
A few of the events held by Emerald included a sponsored walk, crafting events, a craft makers market, and skills workshops hosted by employees! One team member even opened his farm up to teach people about lambing!
In addition to the events, numerous Emerald employees donated through payroll giving. Payroll giving is a way to contribute to a chosen charity each month without paying tax on the donation.
When asked why they wanted to support Fresh Futures, Tamsyn Johnston-Hughes, Internal Communications Lead, said “Being a West Yorkshire business, Fresh Futures was a charity that we were passionate to support, especially as we also focus on education, and working towards supporting the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals in striving to not leave anyone behind”.
Fresh Futures would love to send a huge thank you to the team at Emerald for their donation and deciding to support Fresh Futures this year and every penny received from donations helps us make a significant and lasting impact on the services we can deliver across Kirklees.
Are you interested in supporting a charity on the run up to Christmas?
Why not get involved in our Tree of Wishes Appeal! We are kindly asking businesses to sponsor a bauble for £50, in exchange for your generous donation, we will display a bauble with your company logo, on a Christmas tree displayed at Brian Jackson House.
If you would like more information or to support Fresh Futures, please contact us on [email protected] or call us on 01484 519988.
Fresh Futures are thrilled to update you about the 100 Top Kirklees Companies event that took place at Brian Jackson House last month. This event, hosted by Fresh Futures and coordinated by a partnership including 3M, Huddersfield University, Huddersfield Examiner, and Huddersfield Hub, was a resounding success.
Fresh Futures was delighted to invite companies into our main hub, Brian Jackson House in central Huddersfield, to raise awareness about the charity and to offer a summer networking opportunity to the corporate sector of Kirklees. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of all involved, we achieved this and more.
Sue Cooke, Chief Executive Officer of 3M Buckley Innovation Centre, encapsulated the spirit of the evening perfectly:
“A big thank you to Fresh Futures for hosting the annual summer networking event for the Kirklees Top 100 Companies. It was fantastic to see so many local organisations come together to connect and build relationships. There was a real buzz around the room, and it certainly felt like a celebration of our local business community, with inspiring speakers, from emerging to longstanding companies, that shared their success stories, topped off with amazing food and drink
The evening was an opportunity to network and find out more about the exciting developments in the commercial sector within Kirklees and Fresh Futures’ employees would like to share their appreciation for all those who delivered motivating and informative speeches on the night. Additionally, Fresh Futures was delighted to welcome representatives from the top 100 companies in Kirklees, alongside SMEs and key stakeholders, including some of our much-valued Patrons.
Katie Shephard, Head of Engagement at Fresh Futures, said:
“It was a pleasure to deliver such an exciting event for the commercial sector of Kirklees. Despite the ongoing economic challenges, the country continues to face, it was fantastic to host an event attended by businesses to better understand their ongoing contributions to the local community. Fresh Futures’ vision is to engage with children, young people and families from Kirklees and this event was our opportunity help celebrate the contribution that the corporate sector makes to our region.”
On behalf of all employees at Fresh Futures, thank you once again to everyone who contributed to making this event a great success. Fresh Futures look forward to more opportunities to connect and collaborate with our local business community.
Join the Fresh Futures Patron Scheme
Fresh Futures would like to take this opportunity to invite you to join the Fresh Futures Patron Scheme. As a Patron, you will play a vital role in supporting our mission to provide opportunities and support for children, young people and families across Kirklees. Your involvement will help Fresh Futures continue work in education, skills development, and community engagement.
By becoming a Patron, you will receive:
Regular updates on Fresh Futures projects and impact
Invitations to exclusive events and networking opportunities
Recognition on Fresh Futures website, social media and promotional materials
Your support is crucial to our mission of empowering the next generation. Together, we can create a brighter future for our community.
For more information on how to become a Patron and supporting Fresh Futures, please visit Fresh Futures website or contact us directly via [email protected]
Stay tuned for further updates and future events! #FreshFutures
The youth unemployment rate has increased, and young people experience many barriers when looking for a job. From their work with young adults, Fresh Futures have learnt low confidence and self-esteem, social anxiety, emotional issues and mental health challenges prevent young people from accessing work.
Fresh Futures have developed their innovative Employability Programme to help young people get employment ready and equip them with the skills, experience and understanding to feel confident applying for jobs.
Over the course of one week, the Programme will empower young people to build their skill set and feel confident about searching for job opportunities.
The mornings will focus on building core employability skills, e.g., CV writing, interview techniques and how to research for jobs. Fresh Futures will also provide a free lunch to each young adult attending the Programme.
In the afternoons, the focus will shift towards working with the young people to provide useful experiences to overcome the barriers they face on their journey into employment. This might include trips out, visiting guest speakers or learning new, creative skills such as photography or video editing.
After completing the Programme, the young people will be given the opportunity to undertake 10 hours of voluntary work within an employer from across Kirklees to help build their experience and bolster their CV. Placements will be tailored to young adults’ personal career goals for the future.
Christine Rhodes, Community Connections Services Manager, says: “This new programme is an exciting opportunity for young people to gain valuable knowledge about how to access employment as well as gaining experience of the workplace. We’re keen to offer placements for young people in a variety of different industries across Kirklees and if this is something your business could accommodate, we’d urge you to get in touch today to find out more.”
Fresh Futures have a wealth of experience working with different organisations across the region to support young people through a range of projects. Over the last four months, they have been working with Youth Social to produce a podcast series promoting the benefits of youth volunteering. You can listen to Omar, the Sustainability Volunteer and Freya, a Young Adult Volunteer at Fresh Futures on Episode 5, Part 2. Daisy Whitby, the Volunteer Support Officer at Fresh Futures, also features on Episode 6, where she shares her insights on the volunteering opportunities Fresh Futures offers young adults.
These podcasts are now available on all the main podcast platforms including Spotify and Apple Podcasts – Search ‘Youth Social Podcast’, click the following links:
As part of our campaign to showcase 50 Faces of Fresh Futures to celebrate our 50th birthday, we’re shining the spotlight on Lucy Jackson.
Brian Jackson founded the charity in 1974 and Lucy is Brian’s daughter. Lucy continues her involvement in the charity to this day – she has recently joined the Board of Trustees at Fresh Futures and also sits on the Income and Partnerships committee.
Tell us about yourself and your involvement in Fresh futures?
In 1974 – when I was 11 – my father (Brian Jackson) founded what was then called ‘The National Children Centre’. We had just moved back to Yorkshire, and being a very proud Yorkshireman he was really keen to develop something in his home town of Huddersfield that would make a difference to the people of the town (especially children under 5) and also have a wider impact on national policy and research.
I have a clear memory of going to busy sessions at Longroyd Bridge (the first home of the charity) and seeing lots of colourful activities, toddlers from all different communities, laughing and running around. I used to help empty vans of resources which dad had managed to convince people to give us. It was always a happy place to pop into, which we seemed to do regularly…
Tell us about your dad, Brian Jackson – why did he establish the charity and what was his vision?
Dad was very passionate about working class communities, and also multicultural communities. He saw the impact that education and wider social, emotional and practical support could make to the future of children from all communities living in poverty. He was also very passionate about Huddersfield (including Huddersfield Town) and Yorkshire (especially the cricket)!
In 1974, when we moved back to Yorkshire from Cambridge, I think he saw an opportunity to bring his passions together. At the time he was working on a study about childminders – the world they lived in and the influence the registered, but mainly unregistered, childminders had on very young children. He was also looking at the lack of support childminders received. For him, supporting childminders was critical to supporting the future development of young children from working class communities.
As with everything dad did, he never wanted to leave it as ‘an interesting research project’ to have published in relevant journals – for him the prize was always making a difference to and seeing action within the lives of children and communities. For him the vision of Yorkshire’s Children’s Centre (as was) was to have somewhere that could both provide both practical support for childminders, parents and others supporting children, and provide somewhere for young children to develop and flourish.
Why do you think Fresh Futures is so important in West Yorkshire?
I don’t think I ever consciously went into my profession of Public Health, because of my dad’s legacy – but for me my public health values, beliefs and ethics are exactly why Fresh Futures is so important today (as much as it was 50 years ago) to the present and future communities of West Yorkshire.
Child poverty is at its highest level for over 20 years. Families are experiencing a range of issues from poverty to housing crisis, and facing increased physical and mental health issues. All of which impact significantly on future generations. There is a need for practical and emotional support for families, children and young people to support them to reach their full potential which Fresh Futures’ can provide.
The Charity has been established for 50 years, what are the most significant events from your perspective?
Securing Longroyd Bridge was obviously the first significant event. The play bus and taking the vision out into the streets was significant – the charity’s focus of going out to communities is high in my memory in the early days.
I remember as things developed, and as I became a teenager, dad also brought support for young people more into focus.
However, once we moved to Bristol and my visits to Yorkshire became less I lost touch with what was happening at the charity. – although it was a household joke of how often there were still calls between dad and Hazel (the CEO at the time). I had just completed my A levels and was at a David Bowie concert the day that dad and my younger brother ran the charity race in Huddersfield to raise money for the charity . It was only when I returned from the concert that I received the phone call to say he had collapsed on the run and died.
From there, my connection to the charity over the next years was intermittent – I remember being invited to the opening of Brian Jackson Centre (now House) and feeling really proud of dad’s lasting legacy. I also went to memorial lectures the charity organised each year with Huddersfield Polytechnic, aimed at keeping the cause in the national eye with high profile speakers.
The launching of the Charity’s first alternative provision college for young people was for me the next significant event that I became aware of. Thinking back to the days of the ‘Youth Opportunities Programme ‘ – this felt very much in line with dad’s vision. Again my own life took over with 3 young children and a career, so it wasn’t until a few years ago when social media connected me to another walk (rather than run) in aid of the charity that I once more became aware of the brilliant work happening 50 years later. Although these events are about the physical buildings – its dad’s ethos has remained which for me is most significant – Fresh Futures today is about people working together can change the future of children and young people, just as it was 50 years ago when it was launched by dad.
The original play bus
Lucy has recently starred in a documentary aired on YouTube, interviewing famous sociologists wives to better understand the support they gave to their husbands work over the years, you can watch it here.
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