Keeping Connected and the Weekly Update

Welcome to the weekly update!

Welcome to the Weekly Update and the festive edition of our monthly newsletter, Keeping Connected. December can be a mixed bag, so this month we’re all about finding joy your way, little things that bring comfort and calm. We’re delighted to introduce Grassroots, who run a women-led walking group in Batley, and we’re sharing details of our amazing, flagship course, A Plan for Living Well, which starts in January. Plus, discover how adding a little bounce to our lives can help keep us strong and steady for years to come, as well as discovering how YOU can help us shape a brand-new grounding booklet. Wishing you peace, warmth, and plenty of wellbeing this festive season!

Keeping Connected December 2025

A Plan for Living Well – Calderdale and Kirklees Recovery College Spaces available- book now.

Do you feel like life’s taken the wheel? Our flagship course, A Plan for Living Well, will help you create your own wellness plan and get back in the driving seat of your life! Starting Tuesday 27 January at Folly Hall (1–4pm), this 8-week course explores practical tools for wellbeing, spotting early warning signs, and coping when life throws a curveball.

Places are limited, so book now  – and don’t forget to also book onto the Info Session on 13 January!

Don’t miss our new courses for Calderdale, these have just been added to our course timetable on the website.

There are also still spaces on these upcoming courses – book now to avoid disappointment:- 

The M Word: Menopause Awareness

Friday 5 December 2025 – 10am – 12pm – Online

This learning seminar will help you develop your knowledge and awareness of the menopause; the symptoms, how it may affect you and, most importantly what you can do to manage it. This session is open to people of all genders to enable better understanding of the menopause and how to support those going through it.

Due to the popularity of this workshop and to ensure we are being fair to everyone, priority will be given to learners who have not attended this workshop previously.

View our full course offer here:

You can click the icon or link below for details of all our upcoming courses:

Click to book – View all courses – Calderdale and Kirklees Recovery College (calderdalekirkleesrc.nhs.uk)

How to book your place

If you are already enrolled with the college, please email us to request a place on your chosen course(s) at:  ckrecovery.wellbeing@swyt.nhs.uk  or call us on: 07717 867911 or you can use your learner portal to express your interest. Please wait for confirmation that you are booked onto a course before attending.

If you are new to the College please enrol here.

Recovery College Learner Portal

If you have enrolled with us within the last 2 years or so you will have access to our learner portal. This makes booking onto courses even easier! You can request to book onto courses and see what course you have attended. Use the links below to the portal and our user guide.

Learner portal link

User guide

 

 

Community Offers

Disclaimer:
The community offers and activities shared in this update are provided by third-party organizations and are included for your information only. The Recovery & Wellbeing College does not endorse, guarantee, or take responsibility for the quality, safety, or suitability of these external services. Participation is at your own discretion, and we recommend checking details directly with the provider before attending.

What’s On in Kirklees

Click https://communitydirectory.kirklees.gov.uk/communityDirectory/whatsOn.aspx to browse a wide range of events

S2R Winter Get Together- Wednesday 17th December 10am – 3pm

S2R Create Space, 5-7 Brook Street, Huddersfield HD1 1EB

Come and join us to celebrate the end of another year at S2R with drop-in crafts, games, singing, a warm fire, delicious winter food and refreshments. Pop in for an hour or two or join us for the whole day, it’s up to you. All of our activities are free! We will also be running some free seasonal workshops:

Winter Mindfulness, 11am – 12noon
Willow Bird Feeder, 1 – 3PM
Please book onto these workshops in advance by emailing us at contact@s2r.org.uk or calling 07933 358 800. Please note that these
activities will be held on the 1st floor, accessible only by stairs.

S2R Winter Get Together 2025 (PDF, 562 KB)

Clear Winter Event – Wednesday 17 December 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Clear, Lion Chambers 32-34 John William Street Huddersfield HD1 1ES 

Join us for a joy-filled winter celebration!
Enjoy a magical shadow puppet winter tale, festive singing, wreath making, and much more. Come along and find warmth during the darkest week of the year as we move toward the light.

We can’t wait to see you there! See poster below for full details

Clear Winter Event December 17th (PDF, 3 MB)

@hopespringsart – Christmas events- The Warehouse, HD1 2RA – 1st and 14th December

Two events coming up hosted by Sarah Bowers, who is a learner at the Recovery College:

The Christmas Clay Creations event includes a free welcome drink.

Eventbrite booking and info for Christmas Clay Creations: Christmas Clay Creations Tickets, Mon 1 Dec 2025 at 19:00 | Eventbrite
Eventbrite booking and info for Santa Paws: Santa Paws Tickets, Sun 14 Dec 2025 at 10:00 | Eventbrite

Free Community Christmas Day Dinner Dewsbury Cares – bookings now been taken

Christmas Day should be a special time for everyone!

This event is open to to anyone who would like to spend Christmas Day with Dewsbury Cares Community Group. Bookings are now being taken for the Christmas day community event – lunch, gifts from Santa, and entertainment.  Call 07398 735 530 or just call in at:

Unit 34-34a Cloth Hall Street, Crackenedge Lane, Dewsbury WF13 IQE. Opening times Wednesday 4-6, Friday 4-6, Sunday 4-6. Full details on poster below.

2025 Current Living in Kirklees (CLiK) survey

Help us shape the future of the place you live in Kirklees by filling out the 2025 Current Living in Kirklees (CLiK) survey, which is now live. Please visit our online page to fill it out at CLiK Survey 2025, or use the QR code at the bottom of this email. We are inviting anyone aged 16+ who lives in Kirklees to get involved, and it’s important everyone has their say.

As a bonus for taking part, you can enter a prize draw, organised by our research partner Brightsparks Agency. There will be 10 winners in total, each receiving a £150 Love2shop voucher.

The data you provide is confidential, and will be handled securely by Brightsparks Agency. You don’t have to answer any questions you don’t want to, and any personal details you provide to enter into the prize draw will be kept securely, separate from your survey answers.

 How to take part 

Completing the survey is easy. If you or anyone else in your household would like to complete the survey, take the survey online, follow the QR code, or call 01484 622511 to request a paper copy if you or others cannot complete the electronic version. There are also a number of paper copies available in Kirklees Libraries (please see website below for more details).

Need help completing the survey?

Call Brightsparks Agency on 01484 622511, where you can also request the survey in large print, braille, or translated to other languages (Urdu, Hungarian, Polish, Kurdish, Arabic).

Deadline

Please complete the survey online by 10^th December 2025.

For more information visit Current Living in Kirklees (CLiK) 2025 Survey | Kirklees Council (https://www.kirklees.gov.uk/beta/information-and-data/current-living-in-kirklees-survey.aspx)

Mindful Zentangle Taster session- 14th January

Wednesday 14th January from 10:30am – 12:30pm The 3 Strand Café, Longcauseway Church, Dewsbury WF13 1NH

Join us for a mindful drawing workshop led by Carolyn Hilton from Mindful Maker CIC. During this relaxing session, you’ll be guided to take ‘a line for a walk’ using a fine liner on plain paper, creating your very own unique piece of art. This FREE workshop is suitable for all abilities and offers the chance to learn a new skill while enjoying feelings of pride, accomplishment, focus and relaxation. Often described as ‘yoga for the brain’, Zentangle art can help reduce stress and anxiety, quieten the mind and support focus, concentration and better sleep.  Originally arranged for an earlier date, this has now been rescheduled.

Please email us at: contact@s2r.org.uk to book your place. For more information, please contact Cathy Deihim (Wellness Worker)
by emailing: cathy@s2r.org.uk or calling: 07729 262 741

Mindful Zentangle2 Taster Session (PDF, 1 MB)

 

Creative Minds Festive Fun Day for adults with learning disabilities Thursday 18th Dec 2025

Time: 10.30am-2pm (please arrive for a check-in at 10.30am, pitch activities start at 11am)
Venue: The Zone, St Andrews Road, Huddersfield, HD1 6PT (Near Huddersfield Town football club stadium).

Please arrive for a check-in at 10.30am, pitch activities start at 11am.

It’s a free event but booking is essential.                                                          

Whats on:

• The return of the “Festive bops and pops” (with Makaton) with our Creative Minds Creative practitioners
• join the lovely NHS learning disabilities staff for some gentle fete games
• multisports with Huddersfield Giants staff
• There will be a stall with health and wellbeing information eg falls prevention, the benefits of physical activity, winter health, hospital passports, physical healthchecks
• Photo booth
• tabletop activities

There is a reasonably priced café but you may want to bring a packed lunch and fluids. There is plenty of seating.  Please note that unfortunately the venue doesn’t have a changing place hoist toilet. Parking is free and plentiful, so minibuses/cars are welcome. Activities will take place on the two 3G pitches.

Booking is essential as places are limited, please email Alex alex.feather1@swyt.nhs.uk  or phone Alex on 07827-232698

As some of the activities are physical and involve using equipment we provide a handy pre -exercise readiness questionnaire attached if you need it. We don’t need to see these assessments but please bring them with you on the day and inform staff/coaches of any particular needs or concerns that need their attention.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Waythrough – What’s On January – March 2026 timetable

These activities are open to everyone aged 18 or over who lives in Kirklees and experiences mental health issues, problems, or concerns. You do not need to be seeing an employment advisor to join. Simply call the number below or email and ask for Karl Jackson-Lander the Peer Support Coordinator who will assist you to fill out a short referral form so you can attend.

What’s On – January-March-2026 (PDF, 218 KB)

For more information or to book a place please contact: Karl Jackson-Lander on:
Mobile: 07909 993203
Email: Karl.Jackson-Lander@waythrough.org.uk

For more information, to see our online calendar, or to complete our online application form follow the QR Code, or visit: https://rfkirkleesemployment.org.uk/

 

Holmfirth Tech

Visit https://holmfirthtech.co.uk/whats-on/ for the events listings

For more activities to do with health and wellbeing visit: https://communitydirectory.kirklees.gov.uk/communityDirectory/ThingsToDo.aspx?q=health

https://www.kirklees.gov.uk/beta/community-plus/our-events.aspx

What’s On in Calderdale

Click https://www.visitcalderdale.com/whats-on/ to browse a wide range of events.

You can also find more events at https://calderdaleforum50plus.com/events-activities/

Also coming up soon..

What’s On at Project Colt, Elland

Housed within the historic walls of Elland’s Bridgefield Mills, Project Colt is a safe space full of understanding and open to people who may need extra support.

More than just a building, our mill is a thriving hub brimming with activities, workshops, a bustling cafe, and unique shopping experiences.  People can connect, learn, create, and support one another.

Browse the link at https://www.projectcolt.org.uk/whats-on/ for their activities calendar.

 

3-2-1 Walks: Get outdoors and enjoy easy to follow routes in Calderdale!

Build your fitness and improve your health with 3-2-1 Walks from Active Calderdale and Calderdale Forum 50 Plus. Choose from easy-to-follow routes and see how far you can walk in a week or a month. Getting active by walking regularly can improve both your physical and mental health. Our short, easy-to-follow walks can be enjoyed alone or in the company of family and friends.

More information at 3-2-1 Walks – Calderdale Forum 50 Plus

You can also find more information on walking in Calderdale at https://www.visitcalderdale.com/visitor-information/walking-in-calderdale/ – you can also view shorter walks at https://heartofthepennines.org.uk/shorter-walks/

 

Physical Activity Ideas: Mixenden, Illingworth, Ovenden & Boothtown

Active Calderdale have published some very useful physical activity guides for Mixenden, Illingworth, Ovenden and Boothtown.

See https://calderdaleforum50plus.com/2025/08/05/physical-activity-ideas-mixenden-illingworth-ovenden-boothtown/ for more information.

Grow Well

Get your hands mucky, get active and meet new people every Wednesday from 9am – 12pm at the Outback Community Garden, Halifax. For details click here: Grow Well Gardening for Wellbeing sessions – Halifax Opportunities Trust

 

Cost of Living Information:

Click the link below to find links to websites and workbooks that can provide help and advice with money, debt and the cost of living.

Cost of Living Information – Calderdale and Kirklees

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Have a great weekend

The Recovery & Wellbeing College Team

ckrecovery.wellbeing@swyt.nhs.uk

 07717 867911

Calderdale and Kirklees Recovery and Wellbeing College

Correspondence address:

Ravensleigh Resource Unit
28 Oxford Road
Dewsbury
WF13 4LL