A church project to connect community and reach out to those more isolated, through an exciting programme of activities and crafts, is going strong in its third year.
Aspire is the brainchild of St John’s, Birkby where the vicar, the Revd David Carpenter wanted to build community by encouraging older people to try doing new things together.
“The key for this was to help reduce isolation and build community and we wanted to do that by offering different experiences and a different outlook that would bring people together and build bridges in a new way,” he said.
“And Aspire does just that. It addresses social poverty and bridges ethnic and inter-generational divides in Birkby, improves community relations through education and support and helps older people engage with contemporary culture and social change,’ he added.
Now in its third year, Aspire runs weekly arts and crafts activities four times a week for around 50 older people across four different locations in the parish– including Birkby Croft Sheltered Housing and Astley Grange Care Home for older people with dementia that explores more sensory and memory inspired projects –as well as the community rooms at St John’s church, Birkby where it all started - and the Chestnut Community Centre next to Christ Church, Woodhouse - part of the United Benefice.
The Project leader is Susanna Shotter, a former Occupational Therapist with the NHS who specialised in older people’s mental health. Susanna was looking for part time work that would make use of her skills and her passion for the community while her children were at nursery school.
“This is my dream job, “ she said.
“This gives me real freedom to use my skills and my interests to connect with the elderly and more vulnerable in the local community, providing a safe space and fun environment to make friends and gain in confidence by trying new things.”
Susanna works closely with sessional worker Stella Goodchild, who started as a volunteer at the first group in Birkby in 2015 and went on to work for ChristChurch, launching two new groups to serve the local community.
So far the groups have explored paper-making, felt-making, flower arranging, pottery, community art work and candle-making. However it’s not all arts and crafts; other activities have included gentle exercises, wildlife photography and learning more about local history. They work closely with Birkby Junior School and Prince’s Trust students to do intergenerational sessions once a term.
Just before Christmas, they were involved in a huge community-wide project to make paper snowflakes to be displayed at Huddersfield Train Station as they ran their Christmas Train journeys on the Penistone Line throughout the festive season.
Upcoming events involve musical performances, a Wiltshire Farm Foods tasting session and a creative writing workshop.
The project – which runs throughout the year - is funded from a wide range of grants and trusts including Awards for All, the Cooperative Community Fund and One Community Kirklees. It is Futurekraft – an organisation which supports community projects - that has successfully achieved all the fundraising and administration needed to get Aspire up and running, and is credited with its continuing success as they help to develop the work going from strength to strength.
The groups are dementia friendly and welcome carers and currently benefit from 12 volunteers across all four groups. But they are always looking for fresh ideas and more volunteers.
You can find out more details by contacting Susanna on 07542 771518, or Stella on 07757169123. Email: aspire@stjohnsbirkby.org.uk.
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