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Throughout the month of March, our Building’s Manager Emma Cavanagh was busy coordinating a huge refurbishment of the first floor of Brian Jackson House.

The work, which involved a lot of rewiring, painting and new flooring took place in just three weeks and has transformed the space from what was an outdated working area (last refurbished over 2 decades ago!) to a more connected and modern space.

The project did not go without it’s hurdles, and it was particularly challenging in the first week when the lift broke down! Not great timing as all of the organisation’s huge wooden desks needed to travel down two flights of stairs to be removed from the building! But despite everything, the project was completed and everyone is delighted with the results.

The new, modernised space has seen brand new hot-desks with a new layout in bright and airy rooms. We also now have meeting rooms, break-out rooms and quiet spaces for different working styles, plus an amazing service delivery space where service users can take part in group sessions and 121 sessions.

What’s more, for the first time, staff at Brian Jackson House will soon have access to their own private staff room, allowing for downtime during the working day, which is absolutely essential for our teams who often work in pressurised and challenging situations and deserve a space just for them, where they can relax and reenergise.

Emma wasn’t working alone, and she would like to send out a massive thank you to everyone who supported the project:

“Thank you to everyone on the building’s team for all your help with the project at Brian Jackson House. It’s been a tough couple of weeks and if things could go wrong they have!! However the team really pulled together. There has been blood, sweat & tears!”

I would like to thank Katie for all the cleaning she has done in the project rooms, she has been a superstar and made these rooms look and smell amazing. It wasn’t an easy job with all the dust, wires and random bits everywhere.

I would also like to say thank you to Rebecca, Daniella & Janine for being amazing helping with the moving of all desks, being an absolute super team when the lift broke down and for being there when I’ve had a meltdown!!

Thank you to Tony & James for all the shifting, lifting, painting and moving of everything and anything.

Last but not least I would like to send a special thank you to our volunteer Gareth who has donated so much of his time these past few weeks. He has been brilliant and worked so hard. We really couldn’t have done it without him!”

But of course we all also want to say a big thank you to Emma, who has given her everything to complete this project on time and to a high standard. This project will have a fantastic impact on staff and service users alike, who will all benefit from this new and improved space. We are sure that you will all agree when checking out the photos, just how incredible these new changes are.

Check out the before, during and after photos of the new main hot desk office to see the huge difference that has been made!

As a large charity operating across 5 buildings, we always have refurbishment and renovation projects lined up. If you or an organisation you work with would like to get involved in any volunteer or pro-bono work with Fresh Futures relating to decorating or any other building or gardening work, please email [email protected] or call 01484 519988.

Another year and another cohort of leavers at YCC’s alternative provision school.

This year, several pupils came to the end of their journeys at Brian Jackson College, after completing two years with us, studying the national curriculum, gaining important qualifications and certificates, and learning important life skills.

Brian Jackson College is an Alternative Provision supporting pupils with social, emotional and mental health difficulties. We are based in Kirklees across 2 sites (Huddersfield and Heckmondwike).

This year’s cohort completed courses in core subjects such as English, Maths, Science & Financial Education; plus vocational subjects including food technology, motor vehicle maintenance and construction.

Our aim is to inspire all our pupils to be motivated and successful citizens, equipped to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. We have created a positive environment that offers a fresh start and encourages and promotes pupils’ academic, social, moral, spiritual and cultural learning.

“Where does the time go? We are SO PROUD of this year’s leavers, who fought valiantly throughout the pandemic to continue to achieve to the best of there ability. At the end of the academic year, we always try to spoil our pupils and give them a great send off. This year, all pupils were invited back for an afternoon of pizza and laughter. This included the staff showing off their dance moves. On behalf of myself and every one of the college staff, we wish each and every pupil joy and success on the next part of their journey, and remind them that we area always here, if they need us!” 

A message from Brigitte Barrowclough, Deputy Head Teacher at the Huddersfield college

If you would like to learn more about YCC’s alternative provision colleges, please click HERE to visit the college website.

If you would like to fundraise for, support, or collaborate with the college, please contact [email protected].

The college also has an Amazon Wish List, which includes appliances for the cooking and art classes, plus educational books. You can view this, HERE.

Refugees Welcome!

At Fresh Futures we support vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people, and their families.

It goes without saying that refugees can be extremely vulnerable and disadvantaged when they arrive in the UK.

Refugees experience conditions of vulnerability, marginalisation, and poverty, in addition to high stress of displacement, which can seriously affect health and wellbeing, in particular for women, children, and older people.

That’s why Fresh Futures are looking to take action quickly. We have been in touch with the DWP, to support their programme and offer work to people arriving from Ukraine and Afghanistan. Once employed by us, we will be able to mentor, train, support and develop any individuals, as we do with all of our staff.

We have many available roles currently vacant within our charity and would be proud if any refugee wished to apply for any of them.

We will keep you posted of any positive outcomes.

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