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We are thrilled to announce that we have been awarded the Kirklees Volunteer Quality Award which recognises organisations which are delivering high quality volunteering in how they recruit, train and support volunteers. Volunteers play a key role in supporting our creative sessions at hoot and we are committed to giving them the best possible experience when volunteering with us.

The Kirklees Volunteering Quality Award is valid for 3 years and the process is managed by Third Sector Leaders Kirklees in partnership with Kirklees Council. It demonstrates that organisations are following national good practice in how they recruit, train and support volunteers. The Award is recognised across Yorkshire. Organisations are assessed across 8 criteria:

1. Volunteering in our organisation is open to everyone.  
2. The recruitment and selection of Volunteers is fair, consistent and efficient.  
3. There is a high-quality induction process for Volunteers.  
4. Volunteers are supported and supervised effectively.  
5. Volunteers are encouraged to develop their skills.  
6. Problems are addressed in relation to volunteering.  
7. Volunteers and others are kept safe.  
8. Volunteers are valued and have a positive experience. 

The Volunteering Quality Award panel identified a wide range of good practice through our evidence submitted and interviews including:

• Volunteers have clear roles, expectations and boundaries
• Staff understand the role of volunteers within the organisation and the value they bring.
• There are robust procedures relating to volunteering, in particular problem solving
• Volunteers are supported throughout their journey, including during the exit process.
• Quarterly reports recognise volunteer activity.

Thank you to our colleagues at Third Sector Leaders Kirklees, Kirklees Council and the TSL Kirklees Volunteer Managers Network for their support.

Find out more about the Kirklees Volunter Quality Award and how to apply here

hoot creative arts is looking for people with an interest in creativity and health, diverse voices and wide-ranging skills & experience to become trustees and help us to showcase how being creative makes us feel good.

This is an exciting time as hoot embarks on the next stage of its development. Joining our board now is a fantastic opportunity to help lead and develop the charitable company as we celebrate our 23rd birthday and look ahead to the next 20+ years.

At this pivotal moment for hoot, we wish to strengthen and diversify our board. We recognise the beneficial impact that diverse voices and lived experience has on the work we do, and we actively encourage applications from individuals from all backgrounds and communities, especially from Black and minority ethnic communities and other groups who are under-represented in our sector and societal structures.

As a trustee, you’ll need:

• Enthusiasm & interest in the creative arts and/or mental health
• To be a strong advocate for the charitable company
• Ideally, a specialism that will enable you to support hoot in a targeted area
  • Socially Engaged arts practice
  • Global majority perspectives
  • Disabilities and their impact on mental health
  • Local government systems and realities
  • NHS & Social Care
• To attend quarterly meetings and other sub committees or time limited task & finish groups
• Be committed to the Vision, Mission and Values of the charity

If you have some questions about whether becoming a trustee is a good fit for you, please contact us for an informal conversation before committing to applying: info@hootcreativearts.co.uk  

For more detailed information about hoot, our work and how to apply, please download the hoot trustee recruitment pack HERE

This is a rolling recruitment, and we will respond to applications as and when they come in so if you are curious, please reach out.

We had a wonderful trip to Heritage Quay on Wednesday 9th July to see an exhibition of artwork created by hoot participants, accompanied by music inspired by the pieces on display.

The exhibition, influenced by Leonard Baskin’s powerful ink drawings, was a celebration of creativity and expression. We invited participants, along with their family and friends, to come and enjoy the showcase.

It was such a warm and uplifting afternoon, filled with admiration for the incredible artwork from our visual arts groups and the beautiful music composed by our music group.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, to our amazing staff and of course to Heritage Quay: University of Huddersfield Archives for providing the perfect venue for the exhibition.

Take a look at some of the pictures below and hear the music created to accompany the exhibition.

Thursday 12th October at 6pm 
The Lightbox @Barnsley Libraries 

We're thrilled to be running our October Speak Our Music session at the Culture, Health and Wellbeing Alliance’s national conference 

Speak Our Music is a relaxed space to talk about all things music, mental health, and wellbeing. If you’re interested in music and the music industry, you’re welcome to come along.  

Sessions are hosted by an experienced artist who demonstrates their speciality and hosts a discussion about how music impacts our mental health and wellbeing. 

Alongside our artist hosts, some of our regular session attendees will also be on hand to facilitate the event bringing their personal knowledge and experience from previous discussions in the programme.  

The Culture, Health and Wellbeing Alliance conference is a three-day conference for people who are interested in creativity/ culture, health and wellbeing and working collectively to bring about social change.  

This could include those with lived experience, freelancers, arts, culture and heritage organisations, as well as researchers, health professionals and those from the local authority, voluntary and community sectors. 

If you think you might be interested in attending the conference visit the Eventbrite to read more and book tickets. 

https://www.culturehealthandwellbeing.org.uk/