WDH are working in partnership with Wakefield Council to bring fun, free activity zones to the Wakefield area.

Tips to make your cash go further will be available to everyone at a two-hour WDH advice session in Knottingley on Tuesday.

This is News in Brief - a weekly round up of the latest news and events affecting the Housing industry and communities in the Wakefield district and beyond.

WDH are working in partnership with Wakefield Council to bring fun, free activity zones across the Castleford and Pontefract areas.

WDH tenants in Wakefield improved their photography skills with a session at The Hepworth Wakefield.

WDH has supported a group of young people to redecorate a youth club as part of the National Citizen Service scheme.

We wish everyone a very Happy New Year 2015.

A creative carving workshop at St Catherine’s Church Centre, Wakefield, allowed people to use their imagination and skill to fashion objects from bars of soap.

Service access points (SAPS) will close at 3pm today and noon tomorrow in a change to the previously advertised times.

Christmas came early for 26 tenants at WDH’s Springhills Independent Living Scheme, Outwood, when they gathered to eat, drink and be merry.

Local groups can apply for up to £1500 to help fund community projects. WDH is inviting applications from local community groups or voluntary clubs to boost existing services, buy equipment or pay for an event. The aim is to increase community spirit and enhance the quality of life for local people. Last year one of the many groups that benefited from the scheme was the West End Terriers. They received funding for new training footballs and poles and new football nets to help improve their game. Dale Appleton, from The West End Terriers, said: “It is a superb opportunity for volunteer run organisations to ensure they can remain operational. Without this help and support we would not have been able to provide the much needed training equipment for our members to help them improve and up their game.” Applications open from 3 April to 19 May 2017.  WDH can provide help to complete the application form if needed. For further information visit https://www.wdh.co.uk/OurCommunities , call 01977 788807 or email neighbourhoodpanels@wdh.co.uk.  

Tina, 52, from Pontefract was given a fresh start after moving into one of WDH’s Immediately Available Homes.

For the first time ever Community Foundation Wakefield District are looking to recognise the brilliant work being carried out by volunteers across the district and those who have made a real difference.

Stakeholder Survey raises £520 for the Community Leadership Programme. Our Stakeholder Survey is carried out biennially and gathers feedback from a range of stakeholders on their perception of WDH, how they want to be communicated with and how they think we could improve.  This year, in an effort to increase response rates, we donated £5 for each response to our Community Leadership Programme as an incentive to complete the survey. We received 104 responses, raising £520.  This will part fund a young person’s place on our Outward Bound Skills for Life Programme, which is a 19 day intensive programme.  The course can provide life changing experience for a young person, aiming to develop self-confidence and self-belief, communication, resilience and team working skills and showing individuals how to make the most of the opportunities they’re given.  

WDH has been working with local schools and partners, including Wakefield Council, to support the Great British Spring Clean.

Today marks the 12th anniversary of our launch in 2005 and, to help celebrate it, we’re sharing some of our key achievements from over the past 12 months.

From 3 April 2017 the closing time at South Elmsall and Airedale Service Access Points (SAP) will change to 4pm.

Youngsters from St Helens Primary School choir celebrated St Patrick’s Day by singing songs, playing bingo and taking part in craft activities with residents at WDH’s Ashfield House Independent Living Scheme in Hemsworth last week.

On 10 March Graham Owen, broke the blind salt water scuba diving depth record reaching an amazing 111 meters, beating the previous record of 105 meters.

Phillip Wagstaff is celebrating his new position as a Waste Management Technician at WDH, proving that hard work and dedication pays off.

Residents at West Mead Independent Living Scheme in Airedale were left smiling after WDH invested in improving their homes.

Residents at West Mead Independent Living Scheme in Airedale were left smiling after WDH invested in improving their homes.

Residents at Farfield Court Independent Living Scheme in South Elmsall got a sneak peek at the scheme’s new look following an extensive refurbishment.

We have partnered with technology business Care Management (CM), to pilot innovative technology that will monitor a resident’s health and predict health issues using heart rate, hydration levels, activity, sleep, muscle mass and grip strength.

WDH’s Compliance Team was put to the test alongside West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) as part of a training exercise to prepare us should the worst happen.

WDH employees have raised over £400 to support Dementia UK, further confirming that WDH is committed to supporting residents and employees affected by dementia.

Our construction team and apprentices have now finished building 14 new homes at Springhills Independent Living Scheme in Outwood.

Residents at Musgrave Court were visited by Utilita recently to help them make the most of their smart meters. Following the refurbishment of the independent living scheme in Wakefield, all of the flats now come equipped with smart meters to help residents to keep a track of their energy usage.

Musgrave Court, our latest independent living scheme to be refurbished, has begun welcoming its residents, old and new, back to their new and improved homes.

WDH residents in Pontefract and Knottingley have taken part in a 10 week course to achieve a qualification in arts and crafts.