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We're excited to announce that Creation Station has a new session running on Monday afternoons starting on Monday 7th April.

Our Monday morning Creation Station group has been so popular that we've decided to run a second group on a Monday afternoon.

Creation Station is a creative group at hoot creative arts specially designed for adults with Learning Disabilities and/or Autism.

We offer free and enjoyable activities like Art, Music, and Movement. It's a place to make friends, boost your confidence, and have a great time. 

What We Offer: 

• Exciting art, music, and movement activities, all ideas for creative activities welcome.  

• A place to meet new friends and become part of a supportive community. 

• A place to express yourself through creative activities. 

• Creative activities that make you feel good and boost your mental health. 

Time: 1:30pm - 3:00pm

Dates: 07 April 2025 , 28 April 2025 , 12 May 2025 , 19 May 2025 , 02 June 2025 , 09 June 2025 , 16 June 2025 , 23 June 2025 , 30 June 2025 , 07 July 2025 , 14 July 2025 , 21 July 2025 , 28 July 2025 and more dates to come soon.

Where: hoot creative arts, Bates Mill, Milford Street, Huddersfield, HD1 3DX

How to join: Sign up online here https://www.hootcreativearts.co.uk/activities/creation-station-afternoons

Any questions? Email info@hootcreativearts.co.uk or call us on 01484 516224
 

Session 1: Wednesday 5 March, 7 – 8pm
Session 2: Wednesday 12 March, 7 – 8pm
Session 3: Wednesday 19 March, 7 – 8pm
Session 4: Wednesday 26 March, 7 – 8pm

Online
Free event
Advance booking required

Open to participants aged 18+ only. Attendance limited, Kirklees residents prioritised.

hcmf// are teaming up with hoot creative arts to offer a fun opportunity to make music online in a group setting. We invite you to sign up to 4 weekly sessions, held online and led by music practitioner Rob Crisp. You don’t need experience to take part, just an open mind and a way to connect to the internet.  

Over 4 weekly evening sessions, the group will discuss ways of making sound online, how to share audio with others and how to create sound pieces as an online ensemble. This is a fantastic way to explore the possibilities of digital group improvisation within a friendly and social group setting.

To sign up, please visit: https://www.hootcreativearts.co.uk/ImprovClub

For more information, contact the hcmf// office at info@hcmf.co.uk

We hope you've had a good break. 

Click here to see what's happening at hoot and all our creative activities running this term.

The official release of the Winter 2024 - Making Changes Your Voice in Kirklees Magazine is here and we hope everybody enjoys reading this edition!

Your Voice in Kirklees (YVIK) releases quarterly magazines created by volunteers and staff from Kirklees branches of Waythrough, S2R, WomenCentre, Clear, hoot creative arts, Cloverleaf Advocacy and Carers Count.

New contributors are always welcome, we meet Wednesday's via Zoom (and occasionally in person) at 12.30pm, please email Karl.Jackson-Lander@waythrough.org.uk if you'd like to join for the first meeting of the Spring edition which starts on Wednesday 8th January 2025!

Download/Read our Magazine

• Standard Version of YVIK Winter Magazine (25MB~) - drive.google.com/file/d/1oJ6AH3jEsPgBu_MWeYrEwdUG2vFpBqxR/view
• Directly on Canva by clicking the link or scanning the QR code attached below - https://www.canva.com/design/DAGR4cOEdkw/MElOakb9oUVSineWQQQG3Q/view

About Your Voice in Kirklees

Your Voice in Kirklees (YVIK) releases quarterly magazines created by volunteers and staff from Kirklees branches of Richmond Fellowship, S2R, WomenCentre, Clear, hoot creative arts, Cloverleaf Advocacy and Carers Count.

New contributors are always welcome, we meet Wednesday's via Zoom (and occasionally in person) at 12.30pm, please email Karl.Jackson-Lander@waythrough.org.uk if you'd like to join for the first meeting of the Spring edition which starts on Wednesday 8th January 2025!

Previous newsletters are available on the Waythrough Kirklees Employment Service website's official newsletter webpage

Follow your Your Voice in Kirklees on social media Facebook - X - Instagram

Join our main programmes of free creative activities for adults. Give one of our workshops a go and discover how being creative makes us feel good and is great for our mental health and wellbeing.

This is what the week looks like at hoot, click here to download 

Programme Name: Out of the Blue 

• Who can attend these workshops? Adults aged 18 or over who live in Kirklees
• How much do they cost? It’s free to attend all workshops
• What if I can't attend the first session? That's totally fine! You can sign up and join us at any time.
   

Creative workshops in Dewsbury

Music making workshops

Tuesdays, 10:30am - 12:30pm at Howlands, School Street, Dewsbury, WF13 1LD
Click here to find out more and sign up to join these sessions

Visual Arts workshops

Tuesdays, 2:00pm - 4:00pm at Howlands, School Street, Dewsbury, WF13 1LD
Click here to find out more and sign up to join these sessions
 

Creative workshops in Huddersfield

Creative Writing workshops

Tuesdays, 2pm - 4pm at hoot creative arts, Bates Mill, Milford Street, Huddersfield HD1 3DX
Click here to find out more and sign up to join these sessions

Visual Arts workshops

Wednesdays, 2pm - 4pm at hoot creative arts, Bates Mill, Milford Street, Huddersfield HD1 3DX
Click here to find out more and sign up to join these sessions

Harmony singing workshops

Thursdays, 10:30am - 12:30pm at hoot creative arts, Bates Mill, Milford Street, Huddersfield HD1 3DX
Click here to find out more and sign up to join these sessions

Music making workshops

Thursdays, 2:00pm - 4:00pm at hoot creative arts, Bates Mill, Milford Street, Huddersfield HD1 3DX
Click here to find out more and sign up to join these sessions

Harmony singing online workshops

Thursdays, 6:30pm - 7:30pm on Zoom video call
Click here to find out more and sign up to join these sessions

NEW Evening and Weekend Sessions 2025

Making Art Together: Collaging (online) 

Wednesdays, 7 - 8pm online via Zoom video call (starts 22/1/25)
Click here to find out more and sign up to join these sessions

Creative Flow: Singing at Cleckheaton Library

Saturdays, 11 - 12.30am at Cleckheaton Library, Whitcliffe Road, Cleckheaton. BD19 3DX (starts 1/2/25)
Click here to find our more and sign up to join these sessions
 

Singing Together: Harmony Singing 

Wednesdays, 6 - 7.30pm (starts 5/3/25)
Click here to find out more and sign up to join these sessions

Programme Name: Creative Pathways 

• Who can attend these workshops? Adults aged 18 or over with learning disabilities and/or autism.
• How much do they cost? It’s free to attend all workshops
• What if I can't attend the first session? That's totally fine! You can sign up and join us at any time.
   

Creative workshops in Huddersfield

Mixed artform workshops

Mondays,  10:30am - 12pm at hoot creative arts, Bates Mill, Milford Street, Huddersfield HD1 3DX
Click here to find out more and sign up to join these sessions

At hoot creative arts we are increasingly aware that experiencing racism, discrimination, and bias of all levels throughout a lifetime has a long-term impact on mental health.

hoot is here for all residents of Kirklees regardless (but with awareness and competence) of heritage, culture or creed. hoot celebrates human diversity and how this has influenced and contributed to Britain’s development through music, art, writing, song, traditions, festivals and a whole host of cultural elements. The creative health sector and charities across the UK will be a vital part of the healing process and the drive to challenge discrimination, misinformation, and bias directly through our engagement, design and delivery of projects. 

I grew up in the 1970’s when my mother (White British) had National Front leaflets thrust into her hand as she walked along streets in Manchester with my stepfather (PHD student, Indian national and Muslim). 

50 years later, and during my time working here in Kirklees I have heard once again about the prejudice that is faced throughout a lifetime by British citizens of colour stretching one, two, three and more generations back and now by new residents who seek a safe and secure future for their families. 

When politicians and the media actively use and do not adequately challenge racist tropes and divisive rhetoric, such as "Hostile Environment," "Stop The Boats," "Take Back Control," and "Enemies of the People," (with reference to lawyers and courts) they fuel a climate of hatred and intolerance, culminating in the horrors witnessed on our streets these past 10 days.

As Jo Cox famously said in her maiden speech in Parliament: “ …we are far more united and have far more in common with each other than things that divide us” and it has been heartening to see so many UK citizens standing publicly in opposition to violence, racism and Islamophobia and showing solidarity with those being targeted. 

Our colleagues at Third Sector Leaders Kirklees have collated a list of available resources, advice and support on their website and Arts Council England have released a statement of solidarity and support.

‘Being Creative’ not only ‘Makes You Feel Good’ it builds social health, strengthens connection between individuals and within communities that will always triumph over hatred and division. 

Gavin Clayton
CEO
hoot creative arts

Have a go at fun free creative workshops this summer with hoot creative arts. Being creative makes us feel good and is great for our mental health and wellbeing.

• Who can attend these workshops? Adults aged 18 or over who live in Kirklees
• How much do they cost? It’s free to attend all workshops

Summer Salsa Music Workshops with Rob

10:30am - 12:30pm
Tuesday 13th & 20th August
Howlands, School Street, Dewsbury, WF13 1LD

Join us for Latin rhythms, upbeat percussion and tasty tunes; we’ll be playing, singing and grooving our way through summer.

Click here to sign up and join these sessions

Art at the allotment with Sally

6pm - 7:30pm
Wednesday 31st July & 7th, 14th, 21st August
Growing Works Wakefield Road Allotments, Wakefield Road, Huddersfield, HD5 9XN

Join us on the allotment where we'll be drawing with natural inks and sewing and casting with seeds, plants and flowers. Absolutely no experience necessary.

Click here to sign up and join these sessions

Summer Salsa Music Workshops with Rob

2pm - 4pm
Thursday 15th & 22nd August
hoot creative arts, Bates Mill, Milford Street, Huddersfield HD1 3DX

Join us for Latin rhythms, upbeat percussion and tasty tunes; we’ll be playing, singing and grooving our way through summer.

Click here to sign up and join these sessions

Sunset Campfire Songs with Rob

6pm - 7:30pm
Thursday 15th and 22nd August
S2R Create Space, 5-7 Brook Street, Huddersfield, HD1 1EB

Songs of sun, warmth and stars. Join musician Rob Crisp in singing and strumming round the fire; simple songs with accessible chords, beautiful harmonies and chilled summer evening vibes, no musical experience necessary.

Click here to sign up and join these sessions

The Summer issue of Your Voice in Kirklees Newsletter is out today! 

Your Voice in Kirklees (YVIK) creates quarterly newsletters created by volunteers from Kirklees branches of Richmond Fellowship, S2R, WomenCentre, Clear, hoot creative arts, Touchstone and Carers Count.

Please find below details on the ways people can read/download this newsletter:

1. Standard Version of YVIK Winter Newsletter (36MB~) - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AkXXrDfVnbh0C9jVsJpA9ClbtWs3BeGv/view

2. High Quality Version of YVIK Winter Newsletter (93MB~ For print use) - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jGGGAKb2TzE17fVRgbDpl9Dp6RjDIF-B/view

3. Directly on Canva by clicking the link or scanning the QR code attached below - https://www.canva.com/design/DAF_aI-Fqvg/kJ8znDusBzB6NkjXv7a49Q/view

All past newsletters are available on the Richmond Fellowship Kirklees Employment Service website's official newsletter webpage - https://rfkirkleesemployment.org.uk/your-voice-in-kirklees-newsletter/

New contributors are always welcome, we meet Wednesday's via Zoom at 12.30pm, please email Karl.Jackson-Lander@richmondfellowship.org.uk to find out more.

Find the newsletter on social media:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/yourvoiceinkirklees

X - https://twitter.com/in_kirklees

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/yourvoiceinkirklees/

Episode 2 - Music and Dementia: Young-onset Dementia Group 

A heart-warming episode recorded over two days, providing an insight into how those who live with dementia, their carers and volunteers interact with and discuss music. The young-onset dementia group meets regularly at Brian Jackson House, supported by the Kirklees Dementia Hub and hoot creative arts. With around fifteen participants, this established group provides a significant space for people who have dementia and their carers to take part in activities and support each other. Not all participants were comfortable to take part in talking, however they had lots of fun with exploring how music makes them feel. Listening to live music by Karen Clegg and using instruments enabled them to open-up about their experiences with music.  

Credits: Editing and Production support by Kirran Shah. Featuring musician Karen Clegg, interview with Carer James, Project manager Estelle and Group Facilitator Tina. Supported by Sharleen, Estelle and Tina 

Music created by music groups at hoot

• Meadow Dawn, Noon, Dusk and Midnight  - Another Planet - Spectrum⁠ 

• ⁠HERD Soundscape  - All music groups - HERD⁠ 

• ⁠Song Bluebell Sky (Indian)  - Another Planet - Around The World in 47 Minutes⁠ 

• ⁠Adam's Song  - In Your Head⁠ 

• ⁠Chocolate Bars - In Your Head⁠ 

Read more about this project here