Do you work, live, volunteer or have a connection to Batley, Dewsbury, Heckmondwike, or surrounding areas? Over the next 18 months, we have an exciting opportunity for community members to help shape the future of this area by joining a new community group. This opportunity is part of the new Bridging and Belonging project that we are running in the area, thanks to funding from the National Lottery Community Fund.
The community group will play a crucial role in organising and running community events in Batley, Dewsbury, and Heckmondwike. These events aim to bring people together to listen and share stories focused on themes of community, place, and belonging.
Community group members will receive skills training and peer-support to enhance their ability to engage and work effectively within the community. This is an excellent opportunity for individuals with a passion for community engagement and those looking to make a positive impact.
Hear from Martyn, who participated in a community project that we ran in Batley in 2022, reflecting on the experience:
“Personally I still feel a little shocked at how I felt in those planning meetings, so engaged and driven. So much of that healing and recovery, the reconnection with skills and experience I thought I no longer had being down to the encouragement, engagement and positive endorsement I got from those six or seven weeks being on that planning group.”
Who can join the community group?
We are bringing together 15 people from the area with a mix of backgrounds and experiences to form our community group. We are looking for people who:
- Live, work, volunteer or have a connection to Batley, Dewsbury, Heckmondwike. This is where the community-based events will take place.
- Have some experience in community engagement and attending or organising community events.
- Are happy to contribute your views and experiences as a community member. You won’t be expected to represent the views of any wider groups or organisations.
- Have an interest in your community, listening to others, hearing different views and meeting new people.
- Can commit to attending one meeting per month. These will be a mixture of in-person and online meetings (more info on these meetings in the information document)
- Are committed to showing up with openness, honesty, a lack of judgement and a sense of fun and positivity.
Interested in applying?
If you are passionate about your community and want to contribute to shaping its future, this is your chance to make a difference. To help you get started, we’ve put together an information document that includes all the details about the project and what being involved will look like.
If you are interested in taking part, please apply via our online application form below.
