Wharfe Valley Pathways Closing in Ilkley

Wharfe Valley Pathways Closing in Ilkley

It is with regret we are announcing the closure of Wharfe Valley Pathways. Due to changes to the funding structure, we are no longer able to sustainably deliver this project.

Since 2021 Wharfe Valley Pathways has provided accessible and non-judgmental support for people in Ilkley and the surrounding area who have experienced challenges to their health and wellbeing. This has included support around mental health, benefits and housing, access to foodbanks, substance use, domestic abuse, health and wellness, as well as referrals to other organisations.

We would like to take this opportunity to thanks to NHS Integrated Care Board, Wharfedale Community Health Partnership, Christchurch Ilkley, Primary Care Network, Social Prescribers, Carers’ Resource and residents of Ilkley and surrounding areas.

Since July 2023:

  • 164 unique people have attended the group sessions
  • 83 individuals have received support through 1:1 appointments
  • 151 people have attended drop ins

 

“Since I started coming I’ve felt really comfortable and the group has not been judgmental. It’s helped me manage my anxiety, it’s just like having the tool kit.

I am listening and learning from other people and they’re able to relate to what’s happening for me. I feel included and my confidence has improved.”

Wharfe Valley Pathways Attendee

 

Wharfe Valley Pathways is a partnership project delivered by Keighley Healthy Living’s Mental Health Connect programme with supporting charities Project 6 and The Cellar Trust. The project will continue to offer one-to-one appointments until its final day of delivery 28th March 2024.

Mental Health Connect are delighted to continue to offer group support sessions at Christchurch in Ilkley on Thursdays 10 am to 12 pm from 4th April 2024, under the new name ‘Wharfedale Wellness Together.’

Wharfedale Wellness Together will be open to anyone in need of support, feeling low or isolated on a drop-in basis. For updates about the new service please visit Keighley Healthy Living on Facebook.

To make a referral for one-to-one support with Mental Health Connect, please visit: www.mentalhealthconnect.org.uk or email mentalhealthconnect@khl.org.uk

International Women’s Day – Kim Shutler

International Women’s Day

Written by Kim Shutler, CEO

On International Women’s Day, especially with the theme of ‘Inspire Inclusion’, I wanted to tell you a bit of a story about my Mum and how she has inspired me!

My Mum is ethnically Chinese. She grew up in Malaysia as 1 of 7 children and was educated in a Catholic convent. Quite remarkably, until she was 5, she was brought up as a boy (because her parents wanted a boy not a girl!) My Mum has told me her dream as a child was to have a whole orange to herself as they were too poor to afford this.

Her other siblings were funded to go to University (all medics) but as one of the youngest she knew there was no money left for her education. She left, age 18, with £40 in her pocket and headed to the UK to train to be a nurse at Manchester Royal Infirmary.

Download a PDF copy of the Blog here

A karate black belt and instructor my teensy little Mum is a total powerhouse. She met my Dad (who is from what was at the time the biggest Council Estate in Europe – Wythenshawe) learning to scuba dive in the freezing cold Irish Sea. They braved the racism of being a (rare) mixed-race couple in the 70s… racism she still faces today. They lived in Thailand, then Indonesia, where I was born, before moving back to Manchester in the mid-80s.

My Mum rejoined NHS nursing… moving from theatre nursing to being a Practice Nurse whilst also helping set up Stroke Association groups and the Chinese Information Centre and General Practice to ensure culturally competent health services for Chinese people. Both are still in operation today. Later she trained to be an NLP Master Practitioner and was an NHS nurse till she retired.

My Mum turned 70 last year and has Parkinson’s which is hard. But this is her doing yoga in Sydney (where my sister lives) and actually her and my Dad put me to shame with how active they are.

I am acutely aware that I have lived a very privileged life and whilst I have had my own experiences of prejudice as a result of being mixed-race, the bravery and resilience of my Mum has meant I could have the life and the opportunities I have had.

I have had (and still have) many women in my life who have mentored and supported me, and I am grateful for every one of them, but none more so than my Mum who laid my path and set the bar high.


Kim has been the CEO since November 2014. She is passionate about the role of charities and was recently appointed as the VCSE representative on the West Yorkshire Partnership Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Senior Responsible Officer for the Harnessing the Power of Communities programme. She is also a member of the NHS England Adult Mental Health Steering Group.

Kim was awarded an MBE for Services to Mental Health in 2022.


Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women’s equality. Collectively we can all #InspireInclusion.

www.internationalwomensday.com

Share your views on plans for Shipley Health and Wellbeing Campus

NHS and local charity invite people to share their views on plans for Shipley Health and Wellbeing Campus

Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership will host a community conversation drop-in event on Monday 4 March to hear from local people about proposals to re-invest proceeds from the future sale of Shipley Hospital into the new health, wellbeing, and community campus project.

The partnership wants to hear people’s ideas and views on how the money should be spent following the sale of the converted house which has previously been used as a maternity home and community hospital. Usually, half of the proceeds from the sale would be reinvested locally by NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board and the other half would be returned to the Department of Health and Social Care.

The local NHS partnership is exploring the potential to retain more of the money within the local health economy and are working with stakeholders to try to retain up to 100% of the proceeds for local investment to support local charity The Cellar Trust in its development of a Health, Wellbeing and Community Campus on Farfield Road in Shipley, funding for most of which has been granted through the Shipley Towns Fund.

The aim of the HWCC is to develop a vibrant community-led hub offering a wide range of joined up support services. Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership hope to use the proceeds from the sale of Shipley Hospital to support additional development, to enable delivery of a range of NHS services from the site.

Helen Farmer, Programme Director for Access to Care at Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership said, “We want to hear from local communities about what services they might like to see delivered locally, understand how investing in the project could benefit the local population and hear about any concerns that people may have. People’s views and ideas will help our discussions with NHS Property Services and NHS England about reinvestment, so we look forward to welcoming as many people as possible to come and talk to us.”

“We think that the Health, Wellbeing and Community Campus project is an exciting opportunity that could enable NHS services to be provided from the same location as a range of other wellbeing support offered by voluntary sector partners. However, we are open to hearing about alternative ideas for how the proceeds from the sale of Shipley Hospital could be used.”

Kim Shutler, Chief Executive at The Cellar Trust said, “The Health and Wellbeing Campus will be a welcoming and inclusive facility open to all residents of Shipley and surrounding areas. The HWCC will be a place where people can access a range of services to support their health and wellbeing.”

“The potential of additional funding from the sale of Shipley Hospital would enable us to create extra rooms, space and facilities meaning we could extend the range of services offered on site, open up more appointments, serving and supporting more people”

People are invited to attend the drop-in event at The Cellar Trust, Farfield Road, Shipley, BD18 4QP on 4 March 2024 2pm – 6pm.

Refreshments will be provided. Children are welcome and activities will be available for them. Please let us know if you have any access needs so that we can arrange appropriate support.

The event will provide an opportunity for people to look at the plans for the health and wellbeing campus, ask questions and share their ideas about how proceeds from the sale of Shipley Hospital could be used to benefit the local community.

Representatives from the following organisations will be available to answer questions:

  • Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership
  • The Cellar Trust
  • HALE
  • NHS Property Services
  • Rance, Booth & Smith Architects
  • Philip Davies MP

For anyone who is unable to get along to the event, engagement teams will be visiting local groups and community settings to show them information about the Health, Wellbeing and Community Campus and talk about the project.

People can share their views online at engagebdc.com/shipley-health-wellbeing