Teens and businesses making a difference in Huddersfield 

A CELEBRATION evening was held to thank businesses across Huddersfield for providing volunteering opportunities to hundreds of teenagers.

Over 590 young people were involved in the Huddersfield Giants Community Trust National Citizen Service (NCS) programme in 2018.

They worked on 48 social action projects around the city and helped fundraise more than £26,500 for the activities and work they carried out.

One of those projects was transforming the garden at Thornhill Care Home, on Thornhill Road.

A group of 15-to-17-year-olds from the NCS programme created plant pot borders around the home’s garden, installed solar lighting and laid artificial turf.

They held fundraising activities and appealed to local businesses for supplies to complete the work. They also received funding from Kirklees Council, after support from Councillor Sheikh Ullah, to purchase benches for the home’s residents.

The Huddersfield Giants Community Trust organised a celebration to congratulate the young volunteers and also thank the businesses who have provided community project opportunities.

The event took place at Northfield Hall, Norfolk Ave, Huddersfield, attended by community trust workers, dozens of business representatives and members of Kirklees Council. 

Kirklees Council Deputy Mayor Cllr Mumtaz Hussain, Deputy Mayoress Noreen Hussain and Cllr Sheikh Ullah, who supported the Thornhill Care Home project, were among those at the event.

Nina Baker, Huddersfield Giants Community Trust NCS programme coordinator, said: “This event was our way of saying thank you to everyone who has supported our NCS programme Social Action Provision in the summer and autumn of 2018.

“It was a huge success and great to see so many organisations without whom we couldn’t have such an incredible impact throughout Kirklees.

“We look forward to working closely with Hill Care and other organisations throughout Kirklees for the 2019 programme, which will begin in June.”

Johnny Edwards, home manager at Thornhill Care Home, said: “We are so grateful to Huddersfield Giants Community Trust NCS programme for choosing Thornhill Care Home for their community project.

“The work they have done in our garden is exceptional, a real transformation, and will be enjoyed by our residents for many years to come.

“We look forward to working with the NCS programme again this year as well as seeing them at our sister homes across the region.”

Thornhill Care Home is one of several Hill Care Group homes providing support for the 2019 programme, including Longroyds and Pilling House Care Home, in Skelmanthorpe, and Aden Lodge Care Home, in Clayton West.

Vicky Taylor, regional manager for the Hill Care Group, said: “We are delighted to offer our ongoing support to the Huddersfield Giants Community Trust NCS programme.

“The social action projects at our care homes are hugely beneficial not just to the homes themselves but to the residents and the young volunteers. 

“They provide opportunities for intergenerational activities that have a positive impact on those living in our homes and give the volunteers an opportunity to make a difference in their community.”

The Hill Care Group operates care homes across the north of England. For further information visit www.hillcare.net. 

For further information on the Huddersfield Giants Community Trust and the National Citizen Service programme visit https://hgct.co.uk/.