Local Democracy Week 2022
Protecting the Environment: Local Communities Take Action
Local Democracy Week is a way of helping people to get involved in their community, learn about democracy and have a voice in the decisions that really matter for our everyday lives. We’re celebrating and supporting our active citizens in local places across Kirklees, throughout October. Here are the activities and events we know about so far. Want to add your own activity? Here are some tips: Will you be part of Local Democracy Week?
What is local democracy? It’s about you – and it’s about us.
October activities:
Listening to Birkenshaw
How do you feel about where you live?
From now to Sunday 16th October
Talk with us in Birkenshaw or take part online
Birstall and Birkenshaw ward councillors want to find out what really matters to you in Birkenshaw. You can take part now, then find out the results later in the year.
Listening to Birkenshaw
One Community
Celebrating the power of communities
Thursday 6th October, from 7.30pm to 9pm
The John Smith’s Stadium, Stadium Way, Huddersfield HD1 6PG
Join One Community as we celebrate the achievements of our community during the past year. Come and celebrate the work of those who make it happen, those who step up, and those who believe in the community and its power.
One Community: Book your place
Our Climate Our Voice
Youth climate festival for schools
Tuesday 11th October in Huddersfield
Thursday 13th October in Batley
The Annual Youth Climate Festival provides an opportunity for children and young people to come together, share stories of the positive things they are doing to tackle climate change and hear directly from Cllr Will Simpson, Cabinet Member for Culture and Greener Kirklees.
The festival also provides an opportunity for individual schools to engage with the Eco-Schools programme, which empowers children and young people to make a difference in their school, local community and beyond.
Youth Climate Festival
Kirklees Mayoral visit
Meeting children at Fairfield School
Tuesday 11th October, Fairfield School
The Mayor of Kirklees, Cllr Masood Ahmed, is visiting Fairfield School in Batley during Local Democracy Week. Cllr Ahmed will visit classes and meet the school council. He will be talking about his role as the Civic Mayor of Kirklees and showing the children the Mayoral robes and Mace.
The Mayor of Kirklees
Democracy Friendly Schools celebration
Award visits to our Democracy Friendly Schools
Wednesday 12th October at Gomersal St. Mary’s School
Thursday 13th October at Gomersal Primary School
Friday 14th October at Spring Grove Junior Infant & Nursery School
Thursday 20th October at Fairfield School
Our Democracy Friendly Schools programme is supporting young people across Kirklees to learn about and get involved in local democracy. Follow online at @KirkleesYC & @kirkdemocracy as we celebrate some of our very first Democracy Friendly Schools.
We are Democracy Friendly
Cabinet & Full Council meetings
We are working alongside
Cabinet: Tuesday 11th October, 3pm
Council: Wednesday 12th October, 5.30pm
Live webcasts from Huddersfield Town Hall, Corporation Street, Huddersfield HD1 2TA
At the October meeting of Kirklees Council’s Cabinet, councillors will be discussing the Voluntary and Community Sector Investment Strategy, which is all about investing in our relationships. Both the strategy and the way it has been created show our ‘We are working alongside’ shared values in action. You can watch the Cabinet meeting and also Full Council (which is a meeting of every ward councillor in Kirklees) online.
We’ll be sharing the full story about Working Alongside via @kirkdemocracy on twitter.
Cabinet meeting | Full Council meeting
We ae working alongside
Kirklees Disability Network
For people living with disabilities & groups who provide support
Monday 17th October, from 10.30am to 1.30pm
Brian Jackson House, 2 New North Parade, Huddersfield HD1 5JP
This is the second meeting of a new network for people in Kirklees who are living with disabilities. Local community groups and organisations who provide direct support are also part of the network. It’s an opportunity to have a voice in local decisions and to work together. Richard Parry, Director of Commissioning, Public Health and Adult Services, Kirklees Council will be attending to hear what the key issues are for you. Organised by Third Sector Leaders Kirklees.
Kirklees Disability Network: Book your place
Paddock’s Priorities
How do you feel about where you live?
Tuesday 18th October, from 5pm to 7.30pm
The Jubilee Centre, Paddock, Huddersfield HD1 4SH
Take part online from 1st to 30th October
Greenhead ward councillors want to find out what really matters to you about life in Paddock now and what your priorities are for the future.
Paddock’s Priorities
People Helping People, Spen Valley
Celebrating community activity across Spen Valley
Wednesday 19th October, from 5..30pm to 7.30pm
Cleckheaton Methodist Church & Community Centre, Mortimer Street, Cleckheaton BD19 5AR
Join TSL Kirklees for this local network meeting for community, voluntary & mutual aid groups in Batley & Spen. People Helping People offers free expert support, information and funding help, plus opportunities to promote what you’re doing and to network with other local groups.
People Helping People: Book your place
What matters to Marsden
How do you feel about where you live?
Thursday 20th October, 7pm (Public launch event)
Marsden Mechanics, Peel Street, Marsden Huddersfield HD7 6BW
Take part from 21st October to 10th December
Marsden Community Trust and other local groups want to find out what really matters to you in Marsden. Please can we ask you for your thoughts about life in Marsden for this important fact-finding exercise? We’re using a tool called the Place Standard, which is a proven way of recording people’s impressions and opinions about the place they live, work or visit.
What matters to Marsden
Your budget your say
Have your say on your council’s budget
Open to Sunday 6th November
How are you coping with rising costs? Let us know by taking part in this year’s Kirklees Council budget conversation. We’ll also be asking what you think about the council’s priorities and plans to reach a happier, healthier, and thriving Kirklees.
Take part online | Drop-in sessions & info
The Annual Harold Wilson Lecture 2022
Democracy at risk – can it survive?
Wednesday 26th October, from 6pm op 7pm
University of Huddersfield, Oastler Building, Queensgate, Huddersfield HD1 3DH
This popular annual lecture organised by the University of Huddersfield will this year be delivered by Sir John Major, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom 1990 to 1997. This event is free to attend but you must register your attendance in advance.
Harold Wilson Lecture: Book your place
Celebrating Community Power in Batley & Spen
Celebrating the great work that goes on in local communities
Thursday 27th October, from 10am to 1pm
IMWS Al-Hikmah Centre 28 Track Road Batley WF17 7AA
A half-day conference for local charities, community & voluntary groups, and social enterprises, organised by Third Sector Leaders Kirklees in partnership with Kim Leadbeater, MP for Batley and Spen. Includes a range of inspirational speakers, case studies, opportunities for networking, and workshops aimed at making what we do even better!
Celebrating Community Power: Book your place
Growing Newsome Autumn event
For local food growers and friends
Saturday 29th October from 10am to 1pm
Newsome Scout Hall, Newsome Road South, Newsome, Huddersfield HD4 6JJ
There are lots of ways to help our environment at this event. Get started growing your own food. Join in a foraging walk with our friends at Growing Works. Buy food that’s grown locally in Newsome and Huddersfield. And meet volunteers from local projects that you can pitch in with or learn from.
Growing Newsome
Help shape the People’s Plan for Nature
Share ideas for how we can protect and restore nature
From now to 30th October
What do you love about nature? The UK’s biggest ever conversation about the future of nature is under way, powered by WWF, the National Trust and the RSPB. This is a unique, people-led collaboration to make our nature something we can all be proud of. Take part online or spark a conversation in your community using a simple guide.
You can also take part at The Hive Community Cafe, 46 John William Street in Huddersfield town centre from Tuesday 24th October to lunchtime on Friday 27th October. Or join in at the Growing Newsome event on Saturday 28th October at Newsome Scout Hall HD4 6JJ.
People’s Plan for Nature
Staff volunteering at environmental community projects
Volunteer with Kirklees Council’s employee networks
Friday 28th October, from 9am to 1pm
Places across Kirklees
Kirklees Council’s Young Employee Network (YEN) and Green Employee Network (GEN) are working with local community groups from across Kirklees to arrange some environmental volunteering opportunities for council staff. We will be working in partnership to take a hands-on approach to local democracy, taking action for the environment by supporting friends of parks groups, community gardens and community growing schemes across Kirklees. Staff can participate using some of their two days of yearly volunteering in work time. Please get in touch by 21st October if you’re a council employee and would like to take part.
Email: rebekah.flood@kirklees.gov.uk
Political awareness workshops for staff
Workshops for young employees at Kirklees Council
Thursday 6th October, 1pm to 3pm at Huddersfield Town Hall
Thursday 13th October, 1pm to 3pm at Hudawi Centre
Thursday 20th October, 1pm to 2.30pm at Hudawi Centre
Want to find out more about working in a democratic organisation? Take part in our series of three online workshops for young employees at Kirklees Council. You’ll hear about the importance of the councillor role and find out how our staff and councillors can work together to make a difference. This series of workshops especially for young employees will give you an understanding of the benefits of working collaboratively and putting councillors at the heart of what we do, how we’re growing a stronger local democracy that’s shaped by our citizens, and where you can find further information to develop your skills and knowledge.
Email: luc.bride@kirklees.gov.uk
Black History Month
Celebrating Black History Month in Kirklees
Throughout October
Black History Month in Kirklees is a joint project between Kirklees Council, community groups, individuals and organisations from across Kirklees. Have a look at the events leaflet to learn more…
Black History Month events (PDF)
Anytime activities:
Democracy happens where you are
Learn about local democracy, from the ground up
Want to learn more about our local democracy? We can come and run an activity for your group, in a community venue of your choice – including in local buildings or in outdoor spaces like parks, woodlands, allotments, community gardens or outdoor classrooms. Or if you’d like to run your own session, we can provide some activity ideas to get you started.
Contact: Democracy@Kirklees.gov.uk
Our stories, our places
What makes you proud of where you live?
We’d really like to hear your personal story about how and why you got involved in your community. You can use our storytelling website to share what you did and how it made you (and others) feel. You’ll be helping us understand how more people can come together to make local places better. We’re here to help you tell your story if you’d like.
Our stories, our places | Share your story
Democracy Friendly Schools
Introduction sessions for primary schools
All our young citizens should be able learn about – and get involved in – local democracy and civic life. We’re supporting schools in Kirklees to become Democracy Friendly. We’ll help you to get started with our ‘Everyday Democracy Activities for Schools’ with a one hour “train the trainer” style session at your school, giving you the information and confidence to help young people learn about (and be involved in) local democracy.
We are Democracy Friendly
Contact: Democracy@Kirklees.gov.uk
Image: Local area collage, Linthwaite Ardon CE (VA) Junior and Infant School
Democracy Friendly Schools
Kirklees Youth Councillor training for high schools
We’re supporting all schools in Kirklees to become Democracy Friendly. Young people aged 11 to 16 have the opportunity to grow their skills, confidence and experience by taking part in our training programme and becoming Kirklees Youth Councillors. Our programme is flexible to suit your school. Find out more and sign up to take part:
We are Democracy Friendly
Contact: Democracy@Kirklees.gov.uk
Image: Youth councillors, Newsome Academy
Be part of Natural Kirklees
Volunteer with a local group
Natural Kirklees supports over 100 local organisations who are working to look after our green spaces, for people and for wildlife. You can find a local group on their website and get involved in our woodlands, rivers, parks, common land, allotments, green corridors, orchards and village spaces. You can also search for local green spaces, sign up for the newsletter or follow on facebook.
Natural Kirklees website | Natural Kirklees facebook
About our partner events – We welcome other local organisations who want to get involved in Local Democracy Week. Kirklees Council are not responsible for the content of partner events.
If you’d like to organise your own event or activity, here are some tips: