Empty Homes – Empty No More!

According to the charity Empty Homes there are enough empty homes in the UK to house half the people on our lengthy council waiting lists. Empty Homes were official advisors to the recent empty homes TV series The Great British Property Scandal!  The series highlighted the nearly two million British families who don’t have adequate housing, and the million-odd homes lying empty across the UK – Scandal indeed !!!

Our Construction Section have, for the last seven months, been working on a small portion of the 5,000 Empty Homes across Kirklees and Calderdale.  We had a late start due to delays with getting the funding in place, including £500,000 from the Department of Communities and Local Government, but we are now, thanks to the Constructions’ teams excellent performance, on target to have achieved the first 15  properties by the end of March.  We are targeting another 24 further Empty Homes for each of the next two years.

Iain, our Housing Officer, is  successfully letting the completed properties including the two huge Victorian 4-Bed houses in Lockwood – featured on the Empty Homes excerpt on BBC Breakfast TV in late 2012.

Helen, one of our first tenants explains her experience and the difference our work is making to local people.

“I was struggling to find a rental property for me and my 4 children, due to not being in employment and had nobody to stand a guarantor.  We were very close to ending up living in a hostel or B&B (which is not a good place to bring up children) due to my previous landlord selling up.

Well, I saw a house for rent through Fresh Horizons, I went and sneaked a peek at the night before my viewing. I was amazed at the size and standard of the property and all night thought “I won’t get the house” But to my shock, I did get it.

It’s a tremendous property, decorated and carpeted to a very high standard with a brand new kitchen and bathroom suite.

Iain, the Housing Officer, is just a phone call away for any problems or issues I come across regarding the property.  When I have contacted them they are friendly, down to earth and get one of there team to my house, usually next day.

This house has given me and my children, not just a fresh start in a house we could only dream of, but a better standard of living with rent that I can afford.

I like what Fresh Horizons does so much, I am in talks regarding doing some volunteering work with them. I feel that they are just what tenants of Kirklees need.  At last landlords that actually care about their tenants, not just the money they can make. I’ll put my hands together for Fresh Horizons every time!”

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Chestnut Nursery First Parents Evening Success!

The first parent’s evening held at our new nursery at The Chestnut Centre was a great success with over 40 families attending to see how their kids were enjoying their new nursery.

The parents and children took part in the children’s favourite activities as well as sitting down to a typical nursery meal.

There was an award ceremony where all the children received a certificate and all parents were shown the children’s files and assessment. Parents were given lots of ideas of things they could do at home to support their children’s development and we have interest in cooking classes led by our new cook Sue.

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Chestnut Library and Information Centre

The Library book issues are on the up this month due to the fact the cinema is proving really popular in the community.  Lending has increased by over 13% since we introduced the Chestnut Cinema, with funding from the Arts Council England’s Libraries Development Fund.

Rather than buying tickets we ask people to join the library and take out books.  Children are asked to do a short book report of the books they have taken and the best report gets a prize.

Some Saturdays we have 28 children and adults when the film is brand new.  Even Friday nights, which had a slow start are now averaging 10 to 15 adults each week.

So if you would like to watch the latest block buster check us out!

Films for adults are shown Friday nights at 7pm – Children’s films every Saturday at 1.30pm – and films for Older residents are shown Sunday afternoon at 1pm

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Get into reading!

Do you know an older person locally who likes to read?

Dani Maloney, our Creative Ashbrow Coordinator has been working with the Chestnut Library team to set up a Reading Group, meeting each week at the centre in an informal and supportive environment.

If you have an older fiend or relative who would appreciate getting out of the house for an hour or so, then the Older Persons Reading Group at the Chestnut Centre might be just the thing.

The Reading Group meets every first Wednesday of the month from 11-12 at the Chestnut Centre.

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Yorkshire Music Library

The Yorkshire Music Library, run by Fresh Horizons, provides a sheet music lending service to choirs and orchestras throughout Great Britain.

This month will see the launch of the new Yorkshire Music Library website where customers will be able to visit the Music Catalogue of over half a million music scores on line as well as “Ask the Expert” where they will be able to forward their music queries to a panel of experts who will offer their advice and support.

The YML recently gave a presentation at the International Association of Music Libraries, IAML (UK & Ireland) Annual Study Weekend in April at Headingley, Leeds.   The IAML exists to represent and promote the interests of music librarians and libraries, music–related archives and music information providers throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Here are some of the comments our customers gave us last month:

“Many thanks for such a prompt and professional response.”

“Thank you so much for your swift reply and helpfulness.”

“I’d like to say the service is as good as ever – thank you.”

“Thank you for efficient service and swift despatch.”

“Brilliant service – parts for Peter & the Wolf arrived safely.”

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Films coming to The Chestnut Cinema in March, April & May 2013

The Chestnut Cinema Club offers a chance for people to watch, and discuss a series of films without the high cost of a commercial cinema. There are refreshments available and the cinema is equipped with a state of the art projector and plush cinema seating for all round comfort and enjoyment.

To become a Cinema Club member all you have to do is be a Library Member card holder and either borrow 5 books from the library or pay a £1 donation and you’re all set!

Films coming to the Chestnut Cinema from March 22nd:

Fridays 7pm

Lincoln
The Hunger Games
Shutter Island
The Impossible
Life Of Pi
Django
Beast Of The Southern Wild
Inception
Jack Reacher
Eastern Promise
The Departed

Saturdays At 1.30pm

Hotel For Dogs
Zoo Keeper
Paranorman
Hotel Transylvania
Frankenweenie
Madagascar 3
Rise Of The Guardians

Sundays At 1.30pm

Mamma Mia
Sky fall
Keeping Mum
Argo
Ray
To Rome with love
True Grit
Invictus
Hope Springs
Chocolat
Les Miserable

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You Live & You Learn – The Sequel!

Fresh Horizons has been working to follow up our successful You Live and You Learn project, which turned local peoples stories of overcoming barriers to get back into work or learning into a powerful drama, which won a national prize in 2007.

The project will engage 20 learners to You Live and You Learn part 2 for weekend at Northern College.  These people will act as volunteers to draw in other local people to arts and drama workshops with Proper Job theatre company and Pontefract Press.  The project aims to help everyone with confidence building, raising aspiration through learning from their own and others’ experiences, and learning from information from research carried out of learning in our community.  The project hopes to engage people who have not taken part in a project or learning activity before.

Volunteers will also have a taste of the Proper Job’s brand new Lab 2 project workshop which includes learning how to see yourself as others see you, and conflict resolution.

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Welcome to the Yorkshire Music Library. The library has now been successfully transferred to the Huddersfield, Red Doles Lane site and we have resumed service.  Although the library in no longer a public browsing library it houses over 500,000 items of music and acts as a distribution centre servicing over 2000 customers nationwide.

Customers can now see our catalogue online and will also be able to reserve music via the website in the near future.  We are still experiencing technical issues surrounding the reservation capability of the software we have inherited, but please bare with us and we will let you know as soon as we have it up and running.

You do not need any log in details to browse our catalogue and once we are able to launch the online reservation system we will inform customers how their membership details will work.  Please complete a new membership form if you would like to update your details or become a new member and email it to enquiries@yorkshiremusiclibrary.org.uk

In the mean time, please continue to contact us via our email address and dedicated phone line to make a reservation.

You can collect and return music to our Red Doles site in Huddersfield:

Yorkshire Music Library
Front Line Services
Red Doles Lane
Huddersfield
West Yorkshire
HD2 1YF 

Please arrange collections and returns with Rebecca Nye, Library Assistant so we can ensure someone is available to welcome you

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MEMBERSHIP FORM

TABLE OF CHARGES

VISIT CATALOGUE

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Music Library Staff:

Rosalyn Wimpenny: Manager

Rosalyn is managing the transfer of the Library to Fresh Horizons and comes to the organisation with over 12 years Management/Director experience.  Rosalyn has various experiences in the music field including grade 8 in Piano and Violin and grade 5 Clarinet, having been a member of the Scunthorpe and District School Orchestra’s throughout her education.

Rebecca Nye: Music Library Assistant

Rebecca has a BMus (Hons) Degree, is a member of the RSCM Millennium Youth Choir and has a Choral Scholar at Leeds Cathedral.  Rebecca has worked as a Library Assistant for the Huddersfield University Academic Library and as a Music Library Assistant at the Leeds College of Music. 

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Customer expectations

In order for YML to operate successfully it is vital that customers ensure we always have up-to-date contact information. Once we have this via a completed membership form, customers can expect to have their emails replied to within 3-5 working days. For phone calls we will reply to any messages within 2 working days. If customers are local and wish to either collect or return their music in person they should make an appointment on a Tuesday. If this is not possible, other days may be available by negotiation with the library. If customers wish to pay by cheque for their orders, they should ensure the invoice number is written on the reverse. Please contact the YML with any queries/orders.

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MEMBERSHIP FORM

TABLE OF CHARGES

Please note that any cheque payments to the YML should be made payable to FRESH HORIZONS LTD.  Please state the invoice number on the back of your cheque and send to:

Yorkshire Music Library
Fresh Horizons Ltd
The Chestnut Centre
2a Chestnut Street
Deighton
HD2 1HJ

VISIT CATALOGUE

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Please continue to contact us via enquiries@yorkshiremusiclibrary.org.uk if you have any queries.

For urgent enquiries, please call us on 0844 800 3331. 

CHARGES: Charges and Call Payments for the Service are detailed below. The charges for any Services not listed below will be charged in accordance with the BT Price List. The minimum call duration is stated in the BT Price List.  All charges are shown in pounds sterling. All charges are exclusive of VAT which is chargeable at the applicable rate.

D = Day E = Evening W = Weekend details of the hours are set out in the BT Price List.

Charges for calls – Delivery to Mobile Numbers or Calls Terminating on Mobile
Charges for delivery to mobile number(s) or Terminating on Mobiles are detailed below. The charges for any Services not listed below will be charged in accordance with the BT Price List. All charges are shown in pounds sterling. All charges are exclusive of VAT which is chargeable at the applicable rate.

PENCE PER MINUTE CALL CHARGES (Advanced and Basic)

D = Day E = Evening W = Weekend details of the hours are set out in the BT Price List.

Alternatively you can contact us via email – enquiries@yorkshiremusiclibrary.org.uk

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Thank you to everyone for your support and patience during this time. 

If you have any comments/ideas or concerns regarding the service provided by the YML, please contact Rosalyn Wimpenny, Project Manager, direct at rosalyn@freshhorizons.org.uk

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Promotion -

Children’s Author and Poet

Poet and children’s author of such fun and irreverent books as “Teachers Pick Their Noses” and “The Hungrumptious Blumpfh”, Conrad Burdekin, paid a visit to the Chestnut Centre library last week.

Children from Ashbrow School were entertained by readings from his stories and poems on an Olympic theme.

Senior Customer Information Advisor, Darren Thomas, who manages the Kirklees Council library on behalf of Fresh Horizons said: “It’s really important for Fresh Horizons that we encourage a culture of reading in our area, as literacy and reading is such an important part of school life and we want local children to succeed.  Having fun authors like Conrad can help bring books to life and encourage local kids to keep coming back to our library.”

Amanda Ambler, librarian for Kirklees Library Service said: “The session was booked using Mission Active funding through Kirklees Libraries and Information Centres.   Mission Active Kirklees aims to inspire, motivate and encourage children to think about all aspects of their health and well being; their body, their diet, and their fitness through an integrated programme of activities.

The kids said: “He was excellent”, I really enjoyed it !” and thanked Conrad for being so entertaining.

Head Teacher of Ashbrow School Dora Plant  said: “Thank you for giving our children the opportunity to work with Conrad Burdekin.   They all came back enthused by the experiences provided.”

Tax and benefit changes will ‘hit families hardest’

Visit the link to watch the video

http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/news/uk-16418617

Fresh Horizons is delighted to announce that they have appointed Maureen McGlynn to project manage the establishment of their nursery and day care provision at The Chestnut Centre.

Maureen recently retired from Kirklees Council as their nursery manager for both the Chestnut Nursery and Tiddlywinks and brings a huge amount of experience in quality childcare to the company.  She will oversee Ofsted registration, appointment of the new nursery staffing team and work with parents to ensure the change is managed without disruption and ensure Fresh Horizons new childcare provision is of the highest standard.

Fresh Horizons has been working with Kirklees Council since they announced their decision to merge staff from the Chestnut into the Tiddlywinks so as to retain the number of childcare places in the area as the Council makes savings.

Fresh Horizons will establish its own nursery so that much needed childcare is retained in the Deighton and Sheepridge area.

Fresh Horizons Managing Director Mike McCusker said: “We are delighted to have someone of the calibre of Maureen join our management team.  We wanted someone who could give parents confidence that our child care will be of the same high standard as the rest of the services we deliver and Maureen is just that person.”

Maureen said: “I am looking forward to the challenge of supporting Fresh Horizons with their new venture and making it as successful as their other services are. It is essential that we continue to deliver a quality service for children and families in the Deighton area . I have worked in this area for the last 23 years building up relationships with families and other services and I look forward to the opening of the new Nursery at the  Chestnut centre.   I will do my utmost to ensure that it is an excellent provision for them to bring their children to .”

Contact details

About Fresh Horizons

Fresh Horizons, situated in Deighton, is a growing social enterprise, employing over 50 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.

Fresh Horizons celebrates its role in providing affordable housing

Martyn Broadest of Connect Housing, signs up to 50in250 with Mike McCusker of Fresh Horizons and Lucy Findlay of the Social Enterprise Mark.

Fresh Horizons, a social enterprise certified with the Social Enterprise Mark, has signed a deal with Connect Housing, the West Yorkshire housing association, to help bring empty homes into use as affordable housing.

As a result, Connect Housing have become the latest company to sign up to the Social Enterprise Mark’s 50 in 250 Campaign, by contracting with Huddersfield based Fresh Horizons.

The 50in250 campaign is designed to help 50 businesses each buy from 5 social enterprises, within 250 days. By using certified social enterprises in their supply chain, businesses can demonstrate easy corporate responsibility in an ongoing, valuable and meaningful way.

Fresh Horizons will deliver housing refurbishment and management.  Managing Director, Mike McCusker, said: “We are delighted that such a prestigious organisation as Connect Housing, has added us to their supply chain as part of the Engage Project to bring empty homes into use as affordable housing.  The 50in250 campaign is designed to help businesses use certified social enterprises within their supply chains, and in the process dramatically improve the benefit they deliver to communities. This work will certainly do just that. ”

Lucy Findlay Chief Executive of The Social Enterprise Mark said: “50in250 will help companies know who can contribute real social value to their supply chains. As the certification for social enterprises, the Mark provides the only reliable way of knowing that the people you do business with have genuine commitment to use profits to support their social or environmental aims.”

Martyn Broadest Director of Regeneration at Connect Housing said “Connect Housing is delighted to be working with Fresh Horizons as part of the Engage partnership, with the aim of bringing empty homes back into use as affordable rented housing.  Our partnership will bring benefits to both organisations, helping Fresh Horizons to create a sustainable property lettings and management business, and offering Connect the opportunity to learn from Fresh Horizon’s entrepreneurial success.”