MP Tracy Brabin celebrates business and charity lockdown heroes

BATLEY and Spen MP Tracy Brabin is celebrating businesses and charities who are working closely with Kirklees Council to offer vital community support during the coronavirus lockdown.
Batley and Spen MP Tracy BrabinBatley and Spen MP Tracy Brabin
Batley and Spen MP Tracy Brabin

She said like NHS and other key workers they are also heroes.

And she called for people to volunteer help and support for organisations.

CONTACT: Anyone wanting help from Tracy and her team should call 01924 900036 or email [email protected]

Tracy wants to celebrate the contribution of local businesses and charities.

She said: "All those featured are working with Kirklees Council so you can be assured that the support is reaching those who need it.

"There is still a lot to do, so if you are able, do consider volunteering to help. By working together, we will get through this."

Today she put the spotlight on these help and support groups:

More In Common - Kim Leadbeater driving home the vision of her late sister and MP Jo CoxMore In Common - Kim Leadbeater driving home the vision of her late sister and MP Jo Cox
More In Common - Kim Leadbeater driving home the vision of her late sister and MP Jo Cox

More in Common Kim Leadbeater

Co-ordinating community assistance to help with shopping, collecting prescriptions and providing telephone befriending.

Working in partnership with Kirklees Council, Third Sector Leaders, the Kirklees Befriending Partnership and a range of help groups across - Yorkshire Children's Centre, Paddock Trust, Holmfirth Tech, Colne Valley Care Co-operative, Denby Dale Centre, Huddersfield Mission, Local Services 2 You and the Chestnut Centre.

Contact on 01484 226919 or Freephone 0800 4561114 (8am-6pm weekdays, 10am-4pm weekends and bank holidays).

Salvation ArmySalvation Army
Salvation Army

Salvation Army – Batley and Heckmondwike

Putting Christian faith in action; to live, love and help everyone in need, giving hope and support, a listening ear and a friendly voice to help the most vulnerable, with food banks, shopping service and deliveries for older people shielded at home.

It’s support will continue beyond the Covid-19 crisis.

Contact Kirklees Covid-19 Response Helpline on 01924 408 714 or email [email protected]. To help with fundraising visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/salvation-army-heckmondwike.

RVS knitted flower cardRVS knitted flower card
RVS knitted flower card

Royal Voluntary Service - Batley and Spen

Giving critical support to older, isolated people and helping the NHS to recruit volunteers through the GoodSam App, it provides welfare calls, shopping and prescription drop services. helping people running out of food, dealing with cash, social care and loneliness issues.

RVS has 53 volunteers in Batley & Spen and is supporting 216 older people, plus 36 referred by the local authority. One volunteer knitted a flower for them as a reminder they are being thought of.

Contact www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk or call 0808 196 3646 (8am to 8pm).

Purpose of Life - Batley, Dewsbury and Heckmondwike area

A registered charity, founded by CEO Mohammad Sajad Hussain, it has provided hot dinners and is now making and distributing food parcels and other essential supplies to the vulnerable, homeless and needy.

Purpose of LifePurpose of Life
Purpose of Life

It helps those who are struggling to cope with the impact of Covid-19 on their livelihoods, as well as those who are self-isolating with little or no family support.

The charity would welcome donations to cover the cost of preparing and distributing food and essential parcels.To donate and help, visit www.pol.org.uk

Howden Clough Community Centre

Offering support, help, advice and recruiting volunteers – the Centre plays a big part in bringing the community of Howden Clough together though socialising and having fun.

It is supporting the community to ensure nobody is left isolated or feels alone without support and is not asking for anything in return.

Contact on 07516119980. Also promoting NHS 111 online coronavirus service at 111.nhs.uk/covid-19 or, for those with no internet access, call NHS 111 and in a medical emergency 999.

Churches Together - Cleckheaton

A partnership of the town's churches, comprising of St John's, St Luke's and Whitechapel Anglican Churches, St Paul's Catholic Church and Cleckheaton Methodist Church – co-ordinating church volunteers to provide food banks, a meal deliveries service, shopping support and more.

In the early days of the Covid-19 crisis in Cleckheaton a collaboration between Churches Together, lead by Ray Borrett and Brunel James with Cleckheaton Coun John Lawson, recognised that a need for a coordinated response to help vulnerable people. Support has been given by Batley Food Bank, Cleckheaton Rotarians, Ahmadiyya Muslim Women’s Association, Joshua Adams, and individuals.

Contact information communitydirectory.kirklees.gov.uk or call 07428 500620.

One Nation - Batley

Working with Chaiwalla Batley providing more than 40 cooked meals a day to the most vulnerable, self-isolated and those who are in financial hardship and with Batley Post Office.

It provides food essentials to pensioners, emergency food parcels to those in need and non-perishable foods and delivery support. to food banks.

Call 0300 500 1000, visit www.onenationuk.org or email [email protected].

The Jame Mosque - Batley Carr

Volunteers from the Jame Mosque in Henry Street, Batley Carr have rallied round to create their own food bank to help the vulnerable and elderly in the area.

It has so far delivered 400 boxes of essential items - amongst the recipients were residents of the Barnfield Residential Care Home. And it has raised £1,000, with one volunteer knitting more than 20 teddy bears to be distributed to families with young children.

To contribute, or refer someone to get help, call the ICWA Foodbank phone line of 07555 214 500.

Batley Food Bank

A voluntary, charitable weekday service since 2013, now providing special dietary requirement food deliveries, with public cash donations and food given by small and large stores.

It has switched from clients collecting to home delivery, with a core team of experienced volunteers and support from Kirklees staff.

Donate in-date, long-life goods, toiletries, cleaning products, or pet food by calling 01924 474999.

Rainbow Baby Bank - Heckmondwike, Batley, Dewsbury, Ravensthorpe and Cleckheaton area

A registered charity collecting and distributing donated clothing, equipment and essential items to parents who are struggling and vulnerable due to financial hardship, ill health, domestic violence, housing issues and previous addiction issues.

The Covid-19 outbreak, with the cancellation of vital fundraising events, has also resulted in the closure of its hub – a base for donation drop offs and a referral collection point. It now operates a safe, non- contact delivery services .but this has hugely increased volunteers’ expenses.

To make a donation, or for help, advice and support email [email protected].

HappyMOMents - Batley & Dewsbury

Providing voluntary, peer led support for 800 mums and families via its social media posts, including WhatsAp.

It will host online courses in Mental Health First Aid and Understanding Children's Behaviour, providing opportunities to up-skill local women.

HappyMOMents wants to hear from anyone wanting to join its WhatsApp Groups, help with fundraising and from Mental Health workers, to discuss services - phone or text to Sumayya on 07792 131367. To volunteer to help, call the Kirklees Covid-19 Community Response hotline on 01484 226919 (8am-6pm weekdays and 10am-4pm weekends).

Other help hotlines:

North Kirklees Community Response call 07511 868836

West Yorkshire Police 101 or www.westyorkshire.police.uk/report-it (or 999 in an emergency)

NHS 111 or 111.nhs.uk/covid-19 (or 999 in an emergency).

National Domestic Abuse Helpline call 0808 2000 247

Samaritans call 116 123

Childline call 0800 1111

Batley Food Bank call 01924 474 999

Cleckheaton Food Bank 07811 195280 or email [email protected]

Women’s Aid visit www.womensaid.org.uk

Age UK call 0800 678 1602