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Latest News

Beware of fraudulent collections

It has been brought to our attention that fraudulent house to house collections have been taking place in the Bennett Lane and Hanging Heaton area of Dewsbury using the name of Hollybank Trust to take money from unsuspecting people who believe that they are helping the Trust. In order to gain more funds the fraudulent collectors are also spreading inaccurate stories about the Trust stating that we are about to close and the children will be homeless if we don't raise enough money. This is not true and these collectors have nothing to do with the Trust. Hollybank Trust never undertakes house to house collecting and has no plans to begin this method of fundraising. Anyone who is collecting money on behalf of Hollybank Trust at anytime will carry appropriate identification

A member of staff was then approached by two Asian men claiming to be collectors for the charity on last Friday night about 9 pm.  When she challenged them about it, they said they had made a mistake and were in fact collecting for Scope.

It has since been brought to our attention that these collections have continued in the Mirfield and Batley area. The fraudsters are now using direct debit forms to ask for bank details. The story and descriptions remain the same although one description mentions one white male and one asian male in their early twenties. We only know of those incidences that are reported to us but they could be operating all over the region.

The matter has been reported to the police. Please be vigilant!

New Home in the Community

Cliffe House, Barnsley.

We’ve taken possession of our fifth independence home in the community, Cliffe House in Barnsley. The beautiful six bedroom property will be home to adults with complex physical needs and will allow them to live with the greatest independence possible. Alternations to the existing house are already underway and include the addition of SMART technology, which allows tenants to perform everyday tasks that you and I take for granted, such as turning lights on and off, using kitchen appliances and even opening and closing doors and windows.

Since Hollybank took the decision to care for life in 2002, the emphasis has been very much on adult services, and it is a trend which will continue into the future. Chris Graefe, Head of Residential Services said, “For us, care for life means just that, for life. We provide our residents with the means to live their lives to their full potential, as independently as possible and give them some great memories along the way. Whether they live to 18 or 80, we’ll be there with them”.

Cliffe House cost over £900,000 to buy, renovate and adapt to fit the specialised needs of its new tenants. The funding came from a variety of sources including large grants from Garfield Weston Foundation and the ACT Foundation, support from local businesses and individuals from the local community. Chief Executive Steven Hughes said, “Yet again, our supporters have amazed us with their generosity and commitment to our cause. Six adults will now have a home tailored to their individual and specialised needs and I’m proud to lead an organisation that makes such a positive impact on people’s lives”.

Hollybank Launches Yorkshire's first iMUSE Technology Programme

Hollybank launched Yorkshire's leading iMuse Technology programme.

The iMUSE programme uses interactive music, sound, visual and vibration stimulation to reduce participants' stress and anxiety levels, promoting a better quality of life. The iMUSE studio features Soundbeam, which allows Hollybank's profoundly disabled students to use an 'invisible keyboard' to compose both sounds and images using their own body movements, even the blink of an eye can be programmed to make the sound of a crashing cymbal. The studio also boasts Vibro-acoustic Therapy, where low frequency sine tones are used to stimulate and 'massage' the body from within.

The programme has been developed in consultation with Professor Phil Ellis of Sunderland University, a leading expert in the use of vibro-acoustic therapy.

The man responsible for bringing iMUSE to Hollybank, Stewart Geddes, has extensive knowledge and experience in providing art and arts training for the profoundly disabled community and has worked in the arts with people with special needs for 20 years. Stewart said, 'Empowering people to communicate in creative ways is the fundamental principal of the iMUSE project. We hope it will allow children, young people and adults who would otherwise have limited involvement in the arts to be seen as artists'.

New Partnership with Leeds Metropolitan University

Hollybank Chief Executive Steven Hughes and Leeds Met Vice—Chancellor Professor Simon Lee sign the official partnership agreement.

Hollybank Trust and Leeds Metropolitan University have signed a new partnership, which will provide learning, staff development and Continuing Professional Development opportunities for both parties. Representatives from the University, including Vice-Chancellor Professor Simon Lee (pictured with Hollybank Chief Executive Steven Hughes) visited Hollybank on Monday 30 April to sign the formal Partnership Agreement.

The Memorandum of Understanding commits both parties to a range of collaborative activities and reflects the spirit of co-operation and friendship between Hollybank and the University. The two parties have already embarked on a series of exciting projects including the research and development of iTracker; a technology which uses eye movement to measure profoundly disabled students' understanding and recognition, and Horticulture Therapy, which uses gardening activities to improve Hollybank students' cognitive, social, psychological, and physical development.

University staff will be given access to Hollybank's Disability Awareness training, a course devised by an ex-student for non-disabled people, which aims to highlight the challenges facing people with disabilities and provide insight into the daily lives of profoundly disabled individuals.

Chief Executive and Principal of Hollybank, Steven Hughes, said, 'Its marvellous when two leaders in the fields of very different educational provision are able to come together in such a significant partnership. The scope for cooperative ventures is immense and I look forward to working with the University to provide leading edge opportunities for our respective students; together we hope to pioneer new educational and non-educational initiatives in the pursuit of excellence'.

Jill Adam, Associate Dean in the Carnegie Faculty of Sport and Education said, 'The partnership offers very exciting opportunities for work across the academic, research, volunteering and social agendas to name but a few'.

Further opportunities for collaboration have already been identified, including providing Leeds Met students with placement opportunities within the specialist therapy departments of the Trust, Design and Architecture students creating an interactive sensory garden for Hollybank, and volunteering schemes for University students to paint and decorate communal areas of the Trust, as well as social activities with Hollybank service users.

Hollybank Wins Eco Award

Recycling at Hollybank.

Hollybank has received a Silver Eco Award for our work towards helping the environment. The award, presented by Eco-Schools, recognises schools working towards education for sustainable development and a better quality of life for local and global communities.

Hollybank students formed an 'Eco Action Team' and with their carers, carried out an environmental review of the school, which included looking at recycling habits and the use of energy. From this review, an action plan was put in place which now sees regular collections of recyclable material from each department in the Trust, an effort by all staff to conserve energy by turning off lights and computers when not in use and using kitchen waste to fill our compost bins.

The driving force behind the Eco Action Team, teacher Julie Mainwaring said, 'It feels really good to be doing our little bit to help towards a more sustainable world. Our students perhaps can't take on the full impact of what they are doing but they have really enjoyed being part of the different aspects of the Eco Award Scheme. This has included activities ranging from carrying out surveys and collecting paper for recycling, to experiencing and contributing in meetings. I think it is important that our students are involved in these current and crucial issues and feel they can do their bit to contribute to what are definitely world issues. We are all very pleased with our Silver Award, and hope to sustain the good practice we have helped establish in the school so far'.

Eco-Schools is a programme for environmental management. Its holistic, participatory approach and combination of learning and action make it an ideal way for schools to embark on a meaningful path to improving the environments of schools and their local communities.

'Make it Happen Children's Charity Award Winners!'

Hollybank Trust has been named as one of the 90 deserving winners of a £10,000 'Make it Happen' charity grant from the Royal Bank of Scotland Group. The campaign was launched in December 2006 by RBS to give away £1 million to UK children's charities. Readers of the Daily Mail newspaper and Royal Bank of Scotland staff nominated over 4000 deserving charities to win the Awards.

Hollybank’s Chief Executive Steven Hughes said, 'I am delighted that our work has been recognised in this way, £10,000 will make the world of difference to the very special children we care for. This has been a great start to our fundraising efforts in 2007 and we hope it marks the beginning of another successful year for Hollybank. My sincere thanks go to everyone who nominated Hollybank for this award'.

Hollybank received a nomination from Royal Bank of Scotland manager and long term supporter of Hollybank, Roger Ellis, who said, 'the Royal Bank of Scotland together with the Daily Mail Make it Happen Children's Charity Awards has been able to make this significant donation which I know will be put to good use by the Trustees and staff'.

Holly Bank School receives Hi-Tech accolade

ICT Mark award logo.

We are at the forefront of using information and communication technology, and that's official!

Following an extensive external assessment, Holly Bank School has been awarded the prestigious ICT Mark by Becta, the British Education Communications and Technology Agency, the government funded body responsible for promoting the use of ICT in Britain's schools and colleges.

The award recognises the school's success in developing the strategic use of ICT in both administration and across the curriculum and comes just a month after the school were awarded the Becta ICT Excellence Award.

Head Teacher Pam King said, 'We are delighted to be awarded the ITC Mark. It recognises our positive approach to ICT and the benefits it is bringing to our very special young people. We believe that ICT can be used in every aspect of learning and it ensures that our young people have the tools the need to participate and lead their lives to the full'.

Neil McLean, Executive Director for Educational Practice at Becta said, 'Holly Bank thoroughly deserve the accolade of the ICT Mark. They clearly demonstrate how important it is to take an holistic approach to using ICT in schools. Their investment in new technology has contributed to substantial improvements in learning'.

Becta Awards - We won!

ICT Excellence award winner 2006.

Hollybank are the proud winners of an ICT Excellence Award. The award, presented by Becta, the Government's lead partner in the strategic development and delivery of its e-strategy for the schools and the learning and skills sectors, recognises excellence in IT and was presented to Hollybank staff on 6 November at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham.

The ICT Excellence Awards were launched to reward schools across the UK approaching ICT in outstanding or innovative ways, benefiting their whole community, inside and outside the school building.

Here at Hollybank, we are passionate about ICT and pride ourselves as being at the cutting edge of technological advancements to assist those we care for. We work closely with organisations such as Leeds Metropolitan University, Boston University and Edinburgh University to develop these resources.

Steven Hughes, Chief Executive said 'Winning this award is brilliant. The technological advancements of the last ten years, coupled with our own philosophy of education, development and lifelong care have enabled us to create supportive, interactive environments from school to adulthood. The skills our children and young people develop enable them to have fun as well as make positive contributions to enrich their quality of life. We are all privileged to be able to celebrate their successes in winning this national award and intend to continue to improve and enhance the opportunities we offer'.

The Trust also received a cheque for £3,000 for ICT training and equipment, which will enable us to continue to provide high standards and opportunities for those we care for. Further details of the award, including a video of our team, may be found on the Becta web site (note: Adobe Flash plug-in required to view video online).

Bradbury Centre Official Opening

Countess of Wessex cutting ribbon.

Hollybank Trust was proud to welcome Her Royal Highness the Countess of Wessex (left) on Friday 27 October 2006 to officially open the Bradbury Centre. The Countess, who looked stunning in a faun dress, was greeted by Chief Executive Steven Hughes and Chair of Trustees John Hall and taken on a tour of the school. There, she walked through the 'Doctor Who' corridor, which features switch-activated music and sound effects as you journey through space to the sounds of the TV show's theme tune.

The Countess continued her tour by visiting a classroom where students were busy demonstrating 'G-Force', a computer programme which allows the user to make voice activated visual patterns. Whilst Her Royal Highness spoke to children in the school, guests and supporters gathered for a champagne breakfast in a marquee in the grounds. The Countess emerged from the school to rapturous applause from service users, staff and guests as she cut the red ribbon and declared the £1.5 million Bradbury Centre open. After a tour of the new facility, where she observed students in the hydrotherapy pool and looked in on a rebound therapy session, the Countess was treated to an impromptu performance of God Save the Queen from one of our young adults, Chris Simons, who was using the spa pool.

The royal visit ended with Her Royal Highness giving a heart warming speech to guests in the marquee, expressing how much she had enjoyed the visit and thanking supporters for making the Bradbury Centre possible. A day of celebration was rounded off with a fireworks display and pie and pea supper at Whiteley's Garden Centre, who donated all profits from the evening to the Trust.

Her Royal Highness charmed all who came into contact with her, and Chief Executive Steven Hughes summed her presence up in three words; stunning, remarkable and splendid. The event was a proud day in Hollybank history, one that nobody who attended the opening will forget in a hurry.