Connexions West Yorkshire is a service providing support for all 13 to 19 year olds. It’s about helping navigate their way through decisions about education and careers. It’s also about helping those who have problems with drugs, alcohol, finance, health, relationships and other issues.
It's not just about problems – it's also about making the most of their leisure time in a constructive and exciting way. This could be through volunteering, drama or community based activities. Or it could be out with friends and having a good time!
About 350 young people, every week, use the Centre for:
Advice and support in claiming benefits for 16 to 17 year olds.
Local job, apprenticeship and training vacancies for young people.
Local and regional newspapers, Council and NHS bulletins for job search.
Support from Personal Assistants in finding the most appropriate job, course or training programme.
A referral and advocacy service to other organisations.
Computers for preparing CVs and letters with printing and photocopying facilities.
Information to take away – and read in the library - on health, housing, leisure, money, education, jobs, sexual health, volunteering.
Internet and e-mail.
Condom distribution and advice.
Advice on budgeting and managing on a low income or in debt.
Connexions Centre in Kirklees
24 High Street
Huddersfield
HD1 2LR
Telephone: 01484 226800.
Education access
Kirklees Education Access Services provide services in relation to:
Education Benefits:
They deal with applications for free school meals and school clothing grants for young people who are in full-time education and attend a local authority school or sixth form. The young person must be below 19 years old to qualify for free school meals. They must be below 16 years old to qualify for school clothing grants. For free school meals and clothing grants their parents must be receiving one of the following benefits: Income Support, Income Based Job Seekers Allowance, Child Tax Credit. Or support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act (1999) or the guarantee element of Pension Credit.
Bus Passes
They accept application forms for bus passes at our reception points and we will pass your application on to the School Transport Office.
Customer Care
They are responsible for customer care to children and young people, and adults responsible for them and we aim to provide services that are fair, efficient, effective and responsive to their needs. They are always prepared to respond to your comments, complaints and compliments. Our customer service manager will advise you on how to do this.
Education Social Work Service
They provide a social work service for families of school-age children whose education is at risk and give advice to schools about the education welfare needs of young people.
Child employment or children in entertainment
They have a Child Employment Officer who gives advice to schools, employers, parents and young people about the protection of young people at work. This includes advice on the law, on risk management and health and safety. They provide advice on how to apply for a work permit or an entertainment license if the young person needs one. Employers who employ school age young people without work permits or licenses risk prosecution.
Student support – including Disabled Students Allowance
The Student Support Service administers funding for students who live in Kirklees and who attend higher education courses at universities and colleges throughout the country. The support is in the form of student loans for living costs and tuition fee payments and, in some cases, a maintenance grant. Some of the support is means-tested. There are also some supplementary grants available, such as the Disabled Student’s Allowance, help with childcare costs and the parent’s learning allowances.
Contact Education Access
Reception Points are at:
South Kirklees
The Education Benefits and Education Social Work Team
Upperhead Row,
Huddersfield,
HD1 2JL
Telephone: 01484 221919
E-mail: education.access@kirklees.gov.uk
North Kirklees
The Education Benefits Team
Kirklees Information Point,
Dewsbury Town Hall,
WF12 8DQ
Telephone: 01924 326004/5
E-mail: education.access@kirklees.gov.uk
Education Social Work Team and Child Employment Officer
Town Hall Annexe,
Brunswick St.,
Batley,
WF17 5DT
Telephone: 01924 326004/5
E-mail: education.access@kirklees.gov.uk
Student support team – including Disabled Students Allowance
Upperhead Row
Huddersfield
HD1 2JL
Telephone: 01484 221689 or 221690 or 221691 or 221692 or 221693 or 221694
E-mail: student.support@kirklees.gov.uk
Leaving care
When a young adult leaves care at any time after their sixteenth birthday they are entitled to help from the Children and Young People Service Leaving Care Team until at least their twenty-first birthday.
Every young person who has left care will have a personal advisor from the Leaving Care Team to provide advice, including practical advice and support. The personal advisors will co-ordinate services to help the young person leaving care.
Every young person leaving care must have a Leaving Care Plan and the personal advisor must make sure that the plan is reviewed every six months. It is the job of the Personal Advisor to make sure that the Leaving Care Plan is reviewed at least every six months, and any changes are recorded.
When the person leaves care the Personal Advisor will take responsibility for passing on to the agencies that are supporting them, their new Leaving Care Plan, or the part that they can help them with. The Leaving Care Plan should cover the following areas:
personal support
accommodation
education and training
employment
family and social relationships
practical skills • financial support
a back up plan in case things go wrong, or if the young person changes their mind. This is called a contingency plan.
Contact the Leaving Care Team
The Leaving Care Team are based at
Dryfield House in Batley
Telephone: 01924 326969.
Volunteering
Are you looking for something to do with your spare time?
Are you interested in doing something positive for you and the community, and being able to have fun and enjoy yourself at the same time?
If so, volunteering has lots to offer. It can help you build your confidence and gain some real skills and experience. It can improve your career prospects and update your CV.
You will be able to get involved in a cause or issue that concerns you, and share your skills, interests and hobbies with other people – and there are many volunteering opportunities throughout Kirklees.
Some of the things you could get involved in include childcare, helping children read, working with older people, conservation projects, fund-raising, administration, giving advice and information, being on a management committee. . . . and much, much more.
If you are over 18 and interested in volunteering, Volunteering Kirklees can help you to start. They can give you information on the wide variety of voluntary work available and help you decide on the kind of volunteering you might want to try. They can also give you contact details of organisations who are looking for volunteers and outline what you should expect as a volunteer.
Contact for volunteering
For more information and to do a search for current volunteering opportunities.
Download this information about education, training, volunteering and employment