Come and join us for our Stay & Play sessions every Tuesday morning at Brian Jackson House Huddersfield, HD1 5JP.
Sessions run 10:30am-12pm, and are open for children aged 0-5 and their parents/carers and healthy snacks are provided.
Due to limited capacity, please reserve your place by texting 07849 398709 before 5pm on a Monday.
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:
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.
| Day | Main Activity Focus | Additional 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 |
music, reading, relaxed social vibe
colouring, painting, pottery painting
films, board games, card games, internet access
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.
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.
If you would like to contact the Family Time Team, please email [email protected] or call us on 01484 519988.
On the 12th of April, Holly stepped into the boxing ring to raise funds and awareness for Fresh Futures as part of an Ultra White Collar Boxing Event in Huddersfield.
Holly managed to raise an amazing £1,218.75 and we are very grateful for her support towards the work we do at the charity!
After seven years out of the ring, Holly made her return – not for titles or trophies, but to stand behind a cause she truly believes in. In the lead-up to the event, she dedicated herself to eight intense weeks of training to make sure she was ready when fight day came.
On the day of the event, Holly was nervous but felt ready, all thanks to the training and support of those around her. Holly didn’t win her fight, but for her, it was never about the victory—it was about proving something to herself, and she did exactly that.
Holly says: “We raised money. We raised awareness. And we reminded people that every effort, even after setbacks, can still create impact. I didn’t get the win on the scorecards, but I gained something much more valuable — a sense of what I’m capable of, and a reminder of the community that stood behind me.”
Well done Holly!
If you would be interested in supporting Fresh Futures in ANY way, please contact us at [email protected], we would love to hear from you!
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.
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.
“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.
Spring is here, and what better way to celebrate than with a fantastic line up of fun and educational events for families? Fresh Futures, a charity dedicated to supporting children, young people and their families, is hosting an array of exciting activities throughout Spring. From creative play sessions to a special Baby Boutique sale, there’s something for everyone!
Fresh Futures has carefully designed these events to engage young children, encourage creativity, and provide valuable experiences for families at an accessible cost. Whether you’re looking for a hands-on sensory play session, a heartwarming storytelling event, or even a chance to capture precious family moments, there’s an event for you.
Come along to our EGGstra special Easter party, a multi-activity event including games, egg decorating, music, and much more! Perfect for celebrating Easter with your little one.
Price: £5 per child with one accompanying adult. £2 per additional accompanying adult
A professional photoshoot session, including digital prints that will be delivered in plenty of time for them to be developed into the perfect Father’s Day gifts!
Professional 30-minute, private photoshoot with Fly On The Wall Photographer. Limited slots available.
Price: £35 per session – includes digital prints sent directly to your email!
Fun, themed sensory stations for your little one to explore! Including lights, music, bubbles, and more to spark curiosity and creativity! Plus a handprint station for a cherished keepsake.
Price: £5 per child with one accompanying adult. £2 per additional accompanying adult
Bring your little one and their favourite teddy for a super storytelling session that will peak their imagination. Our readers will host group session reads, or children can explore the vast range of books by themselves or with you. What’s more, every child will be gifted a bag of books to enjoy at home, worth over the ticket price!
Price: £5 per child with one accompanying adult. £2 per additional accompanying adult
These events aren’t just about fun—they provide incredible developmental benefits for young children, including boosting imagination, improving social skills, and enhancing sensory exploration. Plus, they offer families the chance to connect with the community and make local connections.
Call 01484 519988 (option 5 for reception) and a member of staff will be able to make the booking and take payment. Or you can visit Brian Jackson House and pay in person.
We create and facilitate regular groups and events, offering the chance to meet new people and socialise. Young people can also initiate ideas and make decisions about the direction of the service, as part of our Thinking Group, which helps them gain valuable skills and experience for future employment.
When: Every Wednesday 13.00 – 15:30
Where: Brian Jackson House, Huddersfield, HD1 5JP
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 01484 415 465
Text: 07354 903 165
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.
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.
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!
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!”.
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]