Fresh Futures Community Champions

Community Champions Project

Our Community Champions are friendly, trained local people who help others access health and wellbeing information, support and services. The project launched in 2021 to promote COVID-19 vaccinations and has since expanded to help people facing health inequalities make informed choices about their health and wellbeing.

Community Champions are trained local people who are passionate about making a difference. Many are already well known in their communities, speak community languages, and bring valuable lived experience to their role. They are approachable, understanding and aware of the different barriers people can face, including language, cultural, financial and time pressures.

If you speak with a Community Champion, you can expect a friendly, informal conversation that focuses on what matters to you. They can provide advice, answer questions and signpost you to a wide range of statutory and voluntary services, local activities and community groups.

Champions have completed training in more than 20 health and wellbeing topics, including cervical, breast and bowel cancer screening, diabetes, respiratory health, measles, vaccinations, menopause, mental health awareness and stopping smoking. Through one-to-one and small group conversations, they help people understand health messages and feel more confident about making decisions for themselves and their families.

You may meet a Champion at community events, coffee mornings, family hubs, libraries or GP surgeries. Every conversation is different and tailored to the individual. 

Champions also run digital support sessions in partnership with GP surgeries across North Kirklees. They can explain how to download and use the NHS App, help with logging in and identity verification, and provide basic support with mobile phones, tablets and computers. They can also signpost people to local digital skills training.

Alongside health campaigns, Champions promote local support including the Kirklees Families Together Partnership, Healthy Start and Safety in the Home schemes.