Graham Pearson, the Trust's Chief Executive, has been asked to present the work of the Trust to a meeting of Elland Rotary Club on 3rd August.

Now that the new Next Steppers have started, the current dsabled changing room is in high demand, and so we have decided that a second changing room is needed. Space in the building is limited, and so we have have come up with a 'cunning plan'; we will move all the office and administrative functions out into the current foyer, and will then convert the old office.
Yorkshire Water have very kindly donated desks and filing and so we will be setting up a proper reception area where Helen and Jo will sit.
But this change is not just a... [read more]

As our numbers increase, the demands on the kitchen have increased dramatically, and Jill Thewlis is doing a fantastic job. But the ovens and fridge that we originally installed are just not up to the demands on them, and so replacement ovens and fridge have just been ordered. These are full commercial equipment and so will be much better able to cope, but unfortunately they are not the same size as the old units, and need an uprated power supply.
So there will be a bit of upheaval in the kitchen as the new units are fitted towards the end... [read more]

Last yaer we were very fortunate to receive a grant of £10,000 from the Baily Thomas Foundation. We have just heard that the Foundation has given us another grant this year, this time for £5000, towards the costs of running the Cafe and kitchen. We are very grateful for this fantastic support.

The Trust will be having an OPEN DAY on Saturday, 11th July, from 2:00pm until 5:00pm. We are sure that the weather will be fine, so the garden will be open and the new water feature will be in full flow. Drinks and cakes will be served in the Cafe, and all rooms will be open for you to see just what we have and what we do with our facilities.
Please do come along and support us - all are welcome.

Linda Riordan, MP for Halifax will be visiting the Trust during the morning of Friday 1st May. She last visited us shortly after we opened, so she will see great changes.

As the build up to Christmas increases in pace, Next Steppers will be visiting the Pantomime at the Victoria Theatre in Halifax. We will be going in small groups, spread over the week before Christmas.
We are sure that all will enjoy the visit.

On 27th November, Ravenscliffe High School will be holding its annual Craft Fair, and the Trust will be represented there with a small stand. We will be selling Leanne's Christmas Cookbook, but our main objective is to publicise the work of the Trust to potential Next Steppers and their parents.
Please do come along and support us.

On 20th November, Action Halifax will be hosting its 'Report Day' at Square Chapel in Halifax, and the Trust will be having a stand in the exhibition showing its work and the success it is achieving.
Action Halifax has been very supportive of the Trust, and has given us over £100,000 in grants so that we could build the conservatory and buy the minibus as well as undertake various other projects.

I'm Paul Wright and I go to the NST on Mondays, Tuesday and Thursday. On Thursday I take part in the CJWP at Peoples Park. We grow vegetables, including beans, cabbage, carrots and beetroot. We also look after the park, raking leaves, litter picking and maintaining our flower bed. On Monday the 20th of October I went to the CJWP presentation at Heath. Lots of schools went and we all gave a talk about our work. We got a certificate and a gift bag!