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 4^th 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

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

Plans submitted for a £3m health, well-being and community centre

Plans have been submitted for a multi-million pound project in Shipley with a focus on Health, Well-being and Community.

The £3m investment from the Shipley Towns Fund will transform The Old School building on Farfield Road, owned by mental health charity, The Cellar Trust.

Plans, drawn up by local firm Rance, Booth and Smith Architects, include full refurbishment of the existing building, a new atrium at the front of the building and full landscaping.

The proposals for the grounds include the creation of a well-being garden which will be accessible to the public.

The new facility will continue to be run by well-established founding member charity, The Cellar Trust with input from strategic charity partner HALE, also based in Shipley. Its mission will be to provide health and well-being services by working with a range of services from the voluntary sector, public sector and social enterprise in one inclusive, welcoming and accessible place.

The Cellar Trust CEO Kim Shutler said: “We have an established track record of successfully delivering specialist mental health support. This building will give us new opportunities to work in partnership with other local organisations, who may not easily have access to such facilities.

“We’ll be making good use of the improved facilities with the access to green space and the opportunity for classes and activities. All with the aim of supporting even more people across Shipley.”

Services will be available for the whole community and will particularly focus on supporting vulnerable people. There will be large rooms for groups and events, smaller activity rooms, consulting rooms for clinical and non-clinical interventions as well as a multi-faith and contemplation space.

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “This new community development will be invaluable, delivering improved access to mental and physical health services and will support the well-being of our community.”

Chairman of Shipley Towns Fund Adam Clerkin added: “We are pleased to support this incredible project, which will change people’s lives. It will provide a wide range of integrated support services, delivered by a skilled workforce and a team of volunteers who are trained in engaging, assessing, motivating and giving people the tools to improve their health and well-being. We are delighted to have been able to support it through the towns fund.”

Office and co-working space has been set aside for health and well-being providers and social enterprises. The atrium entrance space and welcome area will include an informal seating area and refreshments.

In addition to the £3m funding to be received through the Towns Fund, an additional £600k funding has been sourced through match funding, by way of building collateral from The Cellar Trust.

The £3m funding is part of the Towns Fund which is a Government-funded support programme to boost the economies of towns across the UK, as part of its Levelling Up plan. The scheme has secured £25m for projects in Shipley and the new Health, Wellbeing and Community development is part of this.

Image: Architect’s impression, from RBS Architects, Saltaire.