Background

Colne Valley Help (CVH) was established in December 2020 by 2 existing mutual aid services, Marsden Help and Slaithwaite Mutual Aid, that were set up early in 2020, in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Our aim is that CVH will extend both geographically and in the type of support that it offers, providing services throughout the valley that will help to prevent food poverty and enhance financial resilience.

Marsden Help and Slaithwaite Mutual Aid were set up in April 2020 to provide emergency support to households in Marsden and Slaithwaite that were experiencing financial hardship and food shortage as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Staff and volunteers sourced and delivered food, picked up prescriptions, signposted users to other agencies and provided telephone support to disadvantaged households and people who were self-isolating.

Both groups exemplified the principles of mutual aid. They were established and supported by a network of local community organisations, businesses and individuals. People involved in both groups, with the support of local elected members, have formed Colne Valley Help with a vision of providing sustainable well-being support for households affected by the longer-term economic impacts of the pandemic.

CVH has established a new Board of Trustees that has agreed its Aims and Objectives and a raft of policies and procedures as well as opening a bank account. CVH is currently an unincorporated charity working towards incorporation.

We also aim to support the development of new services in the Colne Valley by working with Third Sector Leaders as part of the Kirklees Community Anchor network.