Engage – Turning empty properties into homes

Empty property costs you money. Whether its security, maintenance or just Council tax, an empty home will mean money down the drain. Its also a lost opportunity to provide a much needed home for someone.

Engage is here to help.

Engage is a partnership between Connect Housing, LATCH, Canopy and Fresh Horizons.

Engage can provide a one-stop service for property letting, management and maintenance. We will turn your empty property headache into a much-needed home.

Engage has come together to help tackle the large number of empty homes in our communities, and at the same time provide training and employment for local people and provide secure good quality homes for families and individuals in need.

Engage has secured grant funding through the Homes and Communities Agency and affordable loan finance to support this work, and is working closely with local authorities to identify empty properties and their owners.

Our approach will not suit every owner of an empty property. But if you’re struggling with an empty property that is costing you time and money which you can’t afford, we may be able to help. At the same time, you may be able to make a real difference to local people in your community.

Click here for more information

Fresh Horizons are now working in partnership with DBI and Kirklees Neighbourhood housing on Glenfield Avenue, Deighton.

The Environmental works began at the end October and are due for completion early in the New Year.

The work being undertaken includes –

·Bow top steel fencingto front with concrete mowing strips.
·Flat top steel fencing to front dividing fences
·New front gates
·KNH Cyclical (maintenance) works to externals of all KNH Properties

The Glenfield Works are part of several similarly targeted schemes in the area,  aimed at improving both area appearance and, therefore, quality of life of Tenants/Users.

Here are some pictures of the works currently being under taken -

Deighton Carnival celebrates the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee

The award winning Deighton carnival is back for its eleventh year using the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee as its theme for 2012.

The spectacular carnival parade and fun day attracts thousands of people from across Kirklees every year kicking off from the Deighton Centre at midday on Sat June 30th

The Deighton Carnival Project, led by a team from social enterprise Fresh Horizons, is now seen throughout the UK as a model of good practice and is now copied by community groups across the country.

The efforts of an army of local volunteers were recognised by West Yorkshire’s Chief Constable Sir Norman Bettison when he presented the team with an award at the Police Community Trust Awards.

The project is unique as it is not just a one day event, but a six month programme of artistic development, workshops, training, learning, mentoring and life skills.

Carnival workshops are open and accessible to any groups or individuals who want to get involved at venues throughout Ashbrow ward.

Volunteering opportunities include taking part in the all day stage show, creating amazing costumes for the carnival procession, running  a info stall, community groups having fund raising stalls or being part of a busy stage management team,

Entries are also open for the fiercely contested football and Basketball tournaments.

“Last year we celebrated our tenth anniversary with the best Deighton Carnival yet, and already the buzz around the community means 2012 will be even more amazing,” says Carnival organiser Howard Belafonte.

“But it is an event owned by the community across Ashbrow and we want as many people as possible to join in which is why we are running open workshops for all comers.”

Contact details

About Fresh Horizons

Fresh Horizons, situated in Deighton, Huddersfield is a growing social enterprise, employing over 60 people, that helps people in areas of deprivation feel proud of what they do and where they live.

By engaging local people, with local knowledge, to solve local problems Fresh Horizons provides opportunities for learning, development and employment; engages people in community life through managing facilities and local events; and improves the quality and safety of community assets. As a social enterprise surpluses are re-invested into services that benefit the community. And as it grows Fresh Horizons creates more jobs, develops more community assets and helps more people improve their lives.

The Deighton Carnival celebrated its 10^th anniversary on Saturday June 25^th and again it was an overwhelming success with well over 6,000 people attending throughout the day. Planning started in September 2010 with various workshop programmes, all of which were showcased on the day.

The day began overcast with a few showers but this didn’t dampen the carnival spirit. By dinner time the sun had arrived and provided the perfect weather for the event.

For the crowd attending there were various different activities including the ever popular 5-aside football tournament, basket ball and netball competitions. There were also a variety of different stalls, information stalls, the stage show, carnival procession (which travelled around the Deighton ward), food from around the world, beer tent, fun fair, slides, bouncy castles, face painting, nail art and much, much more.

“The carnival is not just a day event, but a 6 month programme of workshops, training, mentoring and life skills all of which were show cased on the day of the carnival” said Howard Belafonte, Deighton carnival events and co-ordinator.

The day again proved that positive things do happen in Deighton despite the negative publicity of the past.

Planning starts for next year’s event this September and anyone interested in getting involved are more than welcome.

Next year’s Deighton Carnival will have a sports theme because of the Olympics and takes place on Saturday June 30^th 2012

Fresh Horizons FREE National Vocational Qualification On Site Assessment Service for skilled but unqualified construction workers

Our Assessment Service provides skilled but unqualified staff working on construction sites with up to date qualifications and the fastest route to the Construction Skills Certification Scheme.

Fresh Horizons is able to offer the following construction qualifications at no cost to staff or employers:

• Level 3 Occupational Workplace Supervision NVQ
• Level 2 Maintenance Operations NVQ
• Level 2 Wood Occupations NVQ
• Level 2 Fitted Interiors NVQ
• Level 2 Construction Operations NVQ

Assessment is carried out on site, at a pace that suits you. It is delivered flexibility with all assessment activity planned to minimise disruption. There are no tests or exams, staff will be supported to build their portfolio to evidence competency.

The demand for competency cards on site is increasing as employers and main contractors seek a fully qualified workforce.

The skills you have acquired over the years are important, but in the current economic client proving competency through possessing formal qualifications is growing in importance for employers and staff.

The benefits for the worker of the OSAT process are:

• Recognition of their hard earned skills.
• Opportunities to advance to level NVQ 3/4.
• Ability to secure future employment prospects through registration with the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS)

The benefits for the contractor of the OSAT process are:

• Opportunity to display Fully Qualified Workforce status to prospective clients.
• Opportunity to register whole workforce with CSCS
• Opportunity to develop Workforce Training and Development Plan

For more information contact:
Terry Molloy, Fresh Horizons OSAT Coordinator
Mobile 07960070181, email: terrym@freshhorizons.org.uk

Social entrepreneurs Fresh Horizons scoop top regional prize

Social entrepreneurs Fresh Horizons have scooped the Yorkshire and Humber Social Enterprise of the Year award recognising their innovative work creating new opportunities with the community in Deighton.

The Awards recognise organisations who are based in our region but are national leaders in what they do and have demonstrated a track record of delivery, growth and innovation alongside future plans to take their organisation to the next level.

Fresh Horizons beat off strong competition from other social enterprises across the region for their commitment to creating jobs in most of the most socially deprived areas of Yorkshire and their engagement with the community in highly successful events like the colourful Deighton Carnival now in its 11th year.

The judges at the Social Enterprise Yorkshire and Humber Awards were impressed by Fresh Horizon’s ability to efficiently run community centres across Kirklees and to bring in millions of pounds of funding to kick start local projects.

The award also recognised their innovative construction team which uses local people to work on community projects like renovating derelict properties and their Safer Homes programme that helps more than 1,000 victims of burglary each year more secure by making their homes more secure.

Fresh Horizons began with 2 employees in 2002 and now employs nearly 70 people most of whom have been recruited from the local community.

“Fresh Horizons is absolutely delighted to win this prestigious regional award which not only rewards the amazing achievements of our staff team but is also a recognition of the way the people of Deighton and Brackenhall have supported us from day one,” says Fresh Horizons Managing Director Mike McCusker.

“It is an award that shows that innovative social enterprises like ours with the support of the community can make a real difference by creating new jobs for local people and that we can run popular community hubs offering range of services in a cost effective way.

“When you see an event like the Deighton carnival where the community comes together to celebrate its pride in their own achievements that was clearly a huge factor in winning this award.”

About Fresh Horizons

Fresh Horizons, situated in Deighton, is a growing social enterprise, employing over 70 people, that helps people in areas of deprivation feel proud of what they do and where they live.

By engaging local people, with local knowledge, to solve local problems Fresh Horizons provides opportunities for learning, development and employment; engages people in community life through managing facilities and local events; and improves the quality and safety of community assets. As a social enterprise surpluses are re-invested into services that benefit the community. And as it grows Fresh Horizons creates more jobs, develops more community assets and helps more people improve their lives.

About the Social Enterprise Awards

Social Enterprise of the Year award recognises organisations who are based in the region but are national leaders in what they do and have demonstrated a track record of delivery, growth and innovation alongside future plans to take their organisation to the next level.

The judges felt that Fresh Horizons met and exceeded the criteria and the were particularly impressed by the innovation and plans for growth Fresh Horizons had set out as well as the scope and reach in to the communities it serves.