The latest news from The Shepley Hub, February 2017
1. MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL
Annual renewal notices have been sent out to current Hub members. The standard membership fee is £10 per year, but concessions are available. If you would like to join the Shepley Hub, please contact Chris Ballam (email: membership@shepleyvillage.org) or complete a membership form available online at www.shepleyvillage.org/hub/membership-options/. You can also pick up an application form from the library.
2. ROOM HIRE
Rooms are now available in the library for community groups, business workshops and other events, including children's parties. Please contact Jackie Chatten (email: hub@shepleyvillage.org) or visit the library for further information.
3. CREDIT UNION
We are finalising plans to bring the credit union into Shepley Library one day per week, starting end of February. Initially, this will be a 'pop up' service which will advise on money matters, including debt advice.
4. SHEPLEY HISTORY SOCIETY
The next event will take place on Wednesday 8th March at 7pm in Shepley Library. The topic is the blue plaques on Holmfirth's historical buildings. Tickets £6 (Hub members), £8 (non members). A donation will be made to the new Huddersfield Young Archaeology Society in lieu of a speaker fee.
We are still awaiting an update from Shepley First School regarding the social history project. We hope to have a joint event over the next few months to showcase the results.
5. EDUCATION, SKILLS AND LEARNING
We continue to organise events and opportunities to help support local community groups, businesses and our local economy. On 20th February, Debbie Lumb is kindly organising a CV writing workshop in the library to help local people apply for apprenticeships. In September, we are looking to run a 4-week practical forensics course for children and teenagers. This will include vehicle crash investigations, household fire investigations, digital forensics, and crime scenes. The course aims to inspire children and teenagers on a whole range of professions relating to investigatory work - and take advantage of opportunities and investment in the government's Northern Powerhouse and Cyber Security strategies.
6. MADE IN SHEPLEY BRAND
The Shepley Hub is developing a 'Made in Shepley' brand to champion local community groups, organisations and businesses in Shepley and across our local South Pennine region. We've estimated that there are over 100 businesses in Shepley alone, from arts and crafts through food and drink manufacturing to household and business services. With support from our local councillors and experts, the Made in Shepley brand will also help Shepley take full advantage of the global digital economy. Meetings are planned over the next few months to present our ideas publicly. We're also working with the credit union to plug into CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility).
7. LIBRARY AND COUNCIL BUDGET
Hub trustees have met with senior library managers amid growing concerns about the future of library services across Kirklees.
The Council's current budget proposals will be voted on at Council on 15th February 2017. These proposals, if approved, include a cut in the budget of the Library Service of £1.9m which will reduce the budget from £4.1m to £2.2m. There has already been one service review of Libraries which saw two libraries close and hours and staffing reduced for most of the others. This had already saved £1.85m. This further saving will mean that the service needs to be reviewed again and Shepley Library will once more be under threat. The proposed saving will impact from April 2018 so we only have a year to prove how valuable and important the Library is to our community and the Hub together with the volunteers will continue to work hard to continue to make this Library a success and secure it's future.