At VAC, we believe that emotional health and wellbeing are essential components of thriving communities. That’s why we are excited to introduce the Mental Health & Wellbeing Alliance for Calderdale!
The Alliance aims to bring together individuals with lived experience, organisations (public sector and VCSE), and community leaders who are passionate about promoting mental health and wellbeing. By uniting our efforts, we aim to create a supportive and inclusive environment where everyone can flourish emotionally and mentally.
As part of this initiative, we are proud to introduce the Calderdale VCSE representatives who are playing a vital role in shaping and strengthening the Alliance.
After 14 years in Further Education, Louise’s life took a new direction when she began volunteering to support the refugee crisis. This passion led her to found Focus4Hope in September 2016, a community group that has since grown into a well-established charity.
Focus4Hope support the most vulnerable in our community, running regular fundraising events and vital initiatives. Their Help the Homeless events take place fortnightly in Leeds and Halifax, working under the Leeds Food Aid Network and alongside other charities to provide essential support. The charity also focuses on tackling loneliness among the elderly, hosting afternoon teas, Christmas dinners, and day trips to museums, theatres, and scenic spots.
Their Friday Food Club—developed in partnership with Food Savers—operates as a pioneering social supermarket, offering affordable food to those in need. Additionally, the team also collaborate with Noah’s Ark to provide financial guidance and budgeting courses, while our community hub in Brighouse delivers group sessions to combat social isolation.
Beyond her work, Louise is married with two children and enjoys traveling, reading, and staying active.
Danny is the Chief Executive Officer of Invictus Wellbeing, a charity dedicated to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people. Since stepping into the role five years ago, he has overseen the charity’s growth into one of West Yorkshire’s largest children’s mental health organizations, working across Calderdale, Bradford, Leeds, and Kirklees. From its base at Dean Clough, Invictus Wellbeing delivers vital support to young people aged 5-25 through commissioned services in Calderdale.
With a background in Early Years, Psychology, Youth Work, and Leadership, Danny spent several years working abroad in various roles before joining Invictus Wellbeing. He is actively involved in key regional initiatives, sitting on the Calderdale and Bradford Youth Justice Board, Bradford CYP Mental Health Collaborative, Open Minds Partnership, and The Children & Young People’s Mental Health Coalition. In his own time, he also serves as Chair of Trustees for the Halifax Panthers Foundation.
Passionate about achieving the best possible outcomes for young people, Danny is committed to improving mental health services and integrating insights from health, youth work, and the third sector into the Mental Health Alliance.
John has dedicated over 35 years to the voluntary and charity sector, serving as a volunteer, operational worker, Chief Officer, and Trustee. He currently works with The Brunswick Centre and is a board member at Gaddum.
Throughout his career, John has successfully developed projects and services in Calderdale, supporting people affected by and at increased risk of HIV, as well as providing vital youth services for LGBTQ+ young people. He strongly believes in the power of collaboration, advocating for partnership working to create lasting change.
His commitment is evident in his involvement with Happy Valley Pride’s Mind Your Head initiative, promoting better LGBTQIA+ mental health, and his role in shaping Calderdale’s Mission Zero—an ambitious effort to eliminate new cases of HIV, TB, and viral hepatitis by 2030.
With lived experience and a deep passion for reducing health inequalities, John actively champions the inclusion of minoritised and underserved communities in the design and delivery of services.
Jonny is the Chief Officer for Healthy Minds (Calderdale Wellbeing), bringing over 30 years of experience in both the voluntary and statutory sectors, with a strong focus on mental health support.
A passionate advocate for the voluntary sector within the health and social care system, Jonny has played a key role in driving collaboration across sectors. His work extends beyond Calderdale, contributing to national and regional initiatives aimed at improving partnerships and enhancing support for those experiencing mental health challenges.
Committed to making a lasting impact, Jonny continues to champion the role of community-led services in shaping a more inclusive and accessible mental health system.
The Arch-Way Project is a welcoming drop-in center based in Halifax, dedicated to enhancing the health and well-being of adults facing mental health challenges. Our services support individuals on the autistic spectrum, those with profound mental health conditions, older adults living with or at risk of dementia, and anyone experiencing loneliness or isolation.
We offer a range of daily activities, including music, arts, exercise, and alternative therapies, all designed to help individuals develop new skills, build confidence, and manage their mental health in a supportive, non-clinical environment. Alongside these sessions, we provide a home-cooked lunch and a safe space for socialization.
As a charity entirely reliant on grant funding, we continuously seek new avenues for sustainability. Julie plays a key role in securing funding, exploring income opportunities, and ensuring the long-term future of the organisation.
Neil is the Service Manager for Calderdale Dementia Hub (CDH), a commissioned service dedicated to providing information, advice, and signposting for anyone affected by dementia across Calderdale.
With extensive experience in both the third sector and statutory services across West Yorkshire, Neil has focused on mental health and carer support before specializing in dementia services. His commitment to improving support for individuals and families affected by dementia is at the heart of his work.
Outside of his professional role, Neil is a passionate Tottenham supporter and a fan of live comedy, always appreciating a good laugh.
With 30 years of experience in marketing, communications, and project management, Graham specializes in helping organisations understand and engage teens and young adults. He develops objective-oriented strategies and creates impactful campaigns and content that resonate with young people. As a strategic innovator, Graham has designed several products and processes that have enhanced the engagement and involvement of youth.
He currently serves as the Head of Agency at Fourteen19®, a youth consultancy, and as a Senior Director at Youth Social, a CIC social enterprise. Graham is deeply passionate about supporting young people in managing their mental health—one of the biggest obstacles to leading healthy, fulfilling lives and becoming active, engaged community members.
Empathetic toward the needs of teens and young adults, He is always seeking innovative ways to share life-changing information. Through the What the Friday podcast, he has produced numerous features on mental health that have resonated strongly with listeners.
Jeff Turner is co-founder of Verd de Gris Arts, a creative company established in Liverpool in 1997 with fellow artist Sharon Marsden. Since then, he has collaborated with numerous organizations and commissioning bodies across the UK, delivering participatory projects that blend performance, recorded sound, film, photography, and the written and spoken word.
Now based in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, Verd de Gris Arts has earned seven regional and national awards, including Outstanding Art & Creativity in Dementia Care at the National Dementia Care Awards (2017) and the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (2021). Jeff has contributed to third-sector publications on social engagement and creative health, while also working closely with research programs to explore the impact of creativity on health and social care.
As a producer and consultant, he has led community-based initiatives and participatory arts projects for clients such as NHS England, Salford City Council, Calderdale CMBC, South West Yorkshire Mental Health Trust, and The Piece Hall, Halifax.
For over 15 years, Jeff’s socially engaged practice has transformed how people experience art in health and social care settings. His work particularly emphasizes the role of cultural heritage in shaping personal and community identity.
For any questions or queries, you can contact the Calderdale Mental Health Alliance by emailing:
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You will receive a VAC Member welcome pack with useful information on getting the most out of your membership and a few extra treats!
Every member of VAC will be invited to our Annual General Meeting (AGM) and has voting rights for resolutions and proposals either in person or by proxy.
When you sign up to be a VAC Member, you will be assigned a Go-To Contact from the VAC team.
They will be your main point of contact for your membership, helping to answer questions and signposting you to the right place within VAC and/or our partnerships.
We want the VAC membership offer to be responsive to the needs of our members. Member check ins keep us up to date on your organisation’s news and developments but also on any challenges or support gaps that may be affecting the VCSE sector.
The information we receive during our member check ins will highlight trends and challenges that we can then explore support and solutions for via our membership offer and partnerships with local providers and authorities.
To support VAC members to feel connected and informed, we have created a unique Member Area on the VAC Website.
The online dashboard will keep you and your colleagues up to date on the latest member opportunities, training and news.
The Member Area also has a forum function, allowing VAC Member organisations to interact and support each other.
A quarterly newsletter to keep our members up to date on not only VAC Membership updates and opportunities but also specifically created content on topics of interest to the local voluntary, community and social enterprise sector.
The Bimonthly Member Network is for VAC Members to connect with other VAC Members!
A perfect opportunity to support one another, find out about other local services and explore new collaborative opportunities and partnerships with fellow VAC members.
40% Discount on VAC Room Hire – We offer a range of flexible rooms for hire located in Halifax, West Yorkshire. Our rooms include a fully equipped, large training room with SMART board and flipchart facilities seating up to 25 theatre style, two smaller meeting rooms seating up to 12 and a small office with computer facilities suitable for one-to-one meetings or rent-a-desk.
25% Discount on Virtual Office – Perfect for start ups or smaller organisations, our Virtual Office service offers a postal address, pigeonhole and reception facilities.
25% Discount on ID Badge Printing – Competitively priced to accommodate for smaller orders, our in-house ID Badge service supports both design and printing.
Based on feedback and insight we gain from our members, our training and events offer will complement local infrastructure support training programmes.
All sessions are cost effective and VCSE sector driven. As a VAC + Member, you will receive a considerable discount on all VAC Training and Events.
You will receive a VAC Member welcome pack with useful information on getting the most out of your membership and a few extra treats!
Every member of VAC will be invited to our Annual General Meeting (AGM) and has voting rights for resolutions and proposals either in person or by proxy.
When you sign up to be a VAC Member, you will be assigned a Go-To Contact from the VAC team.
They will be your main point of contact for your membership, helping to answer questions and signposting you to the right place within VAC and/or our partnerships.
We want the VAC membership offer to be responsive to the needs of our members. Member check ins keep us up to date on your organisation’s news and developments but also on any challenges or support gaps that may be affecting the VCSE sector.
The information we receive during our member check ins will highlight trends and challenges that we can then explore support and solutions for via our membership offer and partnerships with local providers and authorities.
To support VAC members to feel connected and informed, we have created a unique Member Area on the VAC Website.
The online dashboard will keep you and your colleagues up to date on the latest member opportunities, training and news.
The Member Area also has a forum function, allowing VAC Member organisations to interact and support each other.
A quarterly newsletter to keep our members up to date on not only VAC Membership updates and opportunities but also specifically created content on topics of interest to the local voluntary, community and social enterprise sector.
The Bimonthly Member Network is for VAC Members to connect with other VAC Members!
A perfect opportunity to support one another, find out about other local services and explore new collaborative opportunities and partnerships with fellow VAC members.
20% Discount on VAC Room Hire – We offer a range of flexible rooms for hire located in Halifax, West Yorkshire. Our rooms include a fully equipped, large training room with SMART board and flipchart facilities seating up to 25 theatre style, two smaller meeting rooms seating up to 12 and a small office with computer facilities suitable for one-to-one meetings or rent-a-desk.
Competitive rate on ID Badge Printing – Competitively priced to accommodate for smaller orders, our in-house ID Badge service supports both design and printing.
Based on feedback and insight we gain from our members, our training and events offer will complement local infrastructure support training programmes.
All sessions are cost effective and VCSE sector driven.
