Residents in Gawthorpe were able to continue a 140-year tradition thanks to a WDH Community Grant.

WDH held a celebratory event in Pontefract last week to mark the end of the environmental improvements being carried out in the local area.

Volunteers who help carry out work at Nostell Village Hall were presented with a cheque for £689 at a tea party last week.

Two WDH employees have taken part in a job swap as part of the Brathay Apprentice Challenge - a national competition to find the Apprentice Team of the Year.

A team of nine WDH apprentices have been sprucing up Cutsyke Community House as part of the 2014 Brathay Apprentice Challenge - the official search to find the ‘Apprentice Team of the Year’.

Former WDH apprentice, Matthew Raine, talks about being a Gas and Heating Ventilation Engineer.

Two WDH apprentices visited Hemsworth Arts and Community College this week to talk to students about the benefits of doing an apprenticeship.

 

Residents in Pontefract get tips on how to cook healthily on a budget after attending a ‘cooking on a budget course’.

Wakefield Council is currently looking for new school governors around the Wakefield district.

Plans to develop the Smirthwaite Estate in Normanton were shown to local residents at a consultation event held at the Normanton Methodist Church.

The WDH Community Learning Programme 2014 is underway after the first session took place in South Kirkby.

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.

Following consultation with WDH tenants, Homesearch members and non-members, our Homesearch policy is changing.

More computers have been donated to the community thanks to WDH’s drive to help more people get online.

A senior citizens group were visited by five different WDH service areas during a meeting in Horbury.

Two generations went head-to-head on the boccia bowling court at a school in Wakefield.

Our Summer Roadshow 2014 hits the road this week, bringing advice and information to tenants and residents at fun galas, market days and community events across the district.

After narrowly missing out on first place in this category last year, Incredible Edible gave it another shot in 2020. This year they were crowned our Digital in the Community winners, in our first ever digital Love Where You Live Awards.

Rachel List was this year’s Arts and Culture Award winner at our first ever digital Love Where You Live Awards.

Terry was the winner of the Best Garden Award at this year’s first ever all digital Love Where You Live Awards event.

The Addy in Knottingley won two awards at our Love Where You Live Awards 2020. They took home the award for Working with Young People and their Wild Tots and Friends intergenerational sessions scooped the award for Working with Older People.

Paul Green was named your Community Champion 2020 in our first ever digital Love Where You Live Awards.

Our Tenant Satisfaction Survey is now underway, giving you the opportunity to have your say on what we do. To make sure we continue to provide you with a high quality service, our customer experience specialists, TLF Research will call a sample of randomly selected tenants to gather your views on the service you receive from us. TLF Research have been asked to conduct the survey on our behalf to ensure the information you provide is confidential. The survey will take place until Friday 18 December 2020.

From Thursday 5 November 2020 West Yorkshire will join the rest of England in a National Lockdown. Though this is difficult for all of us facing further restrictions, it is necessary to limit the spread of the virus and ease the mounting pressures on our NHS and our health professionals. Much like during the first lockdown period, we will continue to work hard so that the restrictions have minimal impact upon the services we are able to offer you directly and we will continue, alongside our partners to provide you with as much help and support as possible.

Damien Schofield is the owner of George A Green fisheries in Lupset, one of the top nine fish shops in the Wakefield district! He has rented his premises from WDH for over 13 years after taking over from the previous owner. During the coronavirus outbreak and lockdown his doors had to remain closed but he was supported by WDH’s Commercial Property Team.

Our community safety team are supporting West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service in raising awareness to keep our tenants and communities safer this year. Due to the pandemic forcing cancellation of organised events, concerns have been raised that this could result in homeowners taking to their gardens for a private bonfire this bonfire night. Community Safety Manager, Gary Lumb said: “We all know that Bonfire Night is a great British tradition and brings with it a strong sense of community spirit which is very much enjoyed within all WDH neighbourhoods. However, this year we must ask all our customers to fully respect the advice and guidance given by the West Yorkshire Fire Service to refrain from having a bonfire in their garden.” He added: “We always want all our tenants, residents and their families to be safe, but also encourage everyone to protect the health and safety of our tremendous emergency services and fully support their work. These are exceptional times, and it is very important that our Fire, Police and Ambulance services are not placed at risk by responding to emergency situations that are preventable. We all hope that activities such as this can return in the way we have always known next year, but in the meantime, please do not have a garden bonfire and help keep you and your neighbours safe.” The West Yorkshire Fire Service said: “We are about to enter a very unusual bonfire period whilst the country is in the midst of tackling a pandemic. We are very conscious of the potential dangers associated with people taking to their gardens to host their own bonfire." They added: "Handling fireworks is best left to the professionals and with public events cancelled, our plea to residents this year is to not risk being injured or having to call on the emergency services or NHS at a time when they are so desperately needed in the collective fight against Coronavirus.”   Visit the WYFRS advice and guidance page for bonfire night.   

New housing association partnership sets five devolution ambitions for West Yorkshire WDH is one of a group of housing associations who have today published a prospectus outlining detailed proposals on how to provide more homes and improve lives across West Yorkshire as the region prepares to choose its first metro mayor.