EdShift

Refugee Week 2026: Courage 🧡

Courage isn't always loud.

Sometimes it's starting again in a new place.
Learning a new language.
Finding your voice after difficult experiences.
Asking for help when you need it.

To mark the end of this Refugee Week, we recognise the courage of refugees and people seeking sanctuary, and the courage shown every day by children and families rebuilding their lives.

Refugee Week

🎉 Just one week to go until our Party! 🎉

Next Friday, we'll be opening the doors of The YouthBase to celebrate three years of EdShift, three more years of National Lottery funding, and the incredible community that has helped us get here.

Whether you've supported us as a funder, partner, volunteer, family member, local business, or simply followed our journey, we'd love to see you there.

Come and join us for:

🍽️ A buffet and refreshments
🎨 Arts & crafts activities for children
💬 Good conversations and new connections
🎉 A chance to celebrate what we've achieved together and look ahead to what's next

📅 Friday 26th June
⏰ 10:30am – 2:30pm
📍 The YouthBase

You don't need to stay all day, pop in, say hello, meet the team, and be part of the celebration.

Book your place here:
👉 https://edshift.co.uk/events/

Thank you for being part of the shift. We can't wait to welcome you next Friday 💛

🦖💜Yesterday was Dare to Wear Brave Day, and Kerry, one of our amazing Arts Psychotherapists, certainly embraced the challenge!💜🦖

With her dinosaur tracksuit and purple and pink hair, Kerry showed that being brave isn't always about doing something big. Sometimes it's about expressing who you are, and feeling confident enough to be yourself.

The children and young people we support teach us every day that bravery looks different for everyone. Its sometimes about speaking up, trying something new, asking for help, or simply showing the world who you are.

A huge thank you to everyone across Calderdale's schools, businesses and communities who took part, donated, shared photos and helped spread the message that bravery comes in many forms.

If you joined in, we'd still love to see your photos! 📸
Tag EdShift and use

💛 Every donation helps us continue providing BraveBoxes and specialist support for children affected by domestic abuse.

🌈 TOMORROW IS DARE TO WEAR BRAVE DAY! 🌈

Schools, businesses and community groups across Calderdale are getting involved tomorrow to celebrate bravery and raise funds for children affected by domestic abuse. 💛

👕 Wear something that makes you feel brave, whether that’s...
🦸 A superhero costume
⚽ A football shirt
🌈 Your brightest outfit
✨ Or something you'd have to be brave to wear!

💛 Donate £1 if you can.

📸 Take a photo, share it on social media, tag EdShift () and use so we can see Calderdale coming together for children and young people.

Every donation helps to fund BraveBoxes: resources that support children affected by domestic abuse to stay safe and feel supported.

Let's fill Calderdale with colour, courage and community tomorrow.

Who's taking part? 👇

🤝This is what Community in action looks like

Thank You, Stitch-Up

Last week, our Fundraising Coordinator Nuji had the pleasure of visiting Stitch-Up CIC to collect a wonderful batch of handmade bags that will be gifted to children and young people taking part in our SpotLight programme.

These beautifully crafted bags are a reminder that our community cares, that people are willing to give their time, skills and creativity to help children feel seen, and supported.

We often talk about being a community of support. The truth is that helping children affected by domestic abuse takes all hands on deck. It takes charities, community groups, volunteers, local businesses, fundraisers, supporters and individuals all playing their part.

A huge thank you to everyone at Stitch-Up CIC for choosing to support EdShift in such a thoughtful and practical way. Your kindness will have a direct impact on the children and young people we work alongside. 💛

As we continue working towards our vision of ensuring every child is seen and every child is heard, we're reminded that there are so many ways to be part of the shift. Not everyone can donate money, but people can donate time, skills, resources, expertise, creativity and connections. Every contribution matters.

If you'd like to support EdShift, we'd love to hear from you. Whether you're a volunteer, community group, local business, fundraiser or simply someone who wants to help, there are plenty of ways to get involved.

Yesterday, our Chair of Trustees, Kate Adamson visited the EdShift YouthBase to congratulate the team on winning the Yorkshire Choice Awards for Community Arts and to visit our beautiful award of course.

It’s been one week since we were awarded the Community Arts award, and as you can tell, we are still on a high.

This achievement belongs to the whole EdShift community – our staff, volunteers, supporters, partners, trustees, and most importantly, the children and young people who inspire our work every day.

Thank you to everyone who voted for us.

Your support helps us continue creating safe spaces where children affected by domestic abuse can feel seen, heard and supported.

Our Chair said:
“We hope EdShift’s future is as bright and shiny as this wonderful award. Thank you to everyone who not only voted, but to all those who like, share, and comment on our posts, and to everyone who endorses EdShift to the wider public. Spreading the word is a big part of what keeps the wheels turning and we are grateful. Congratulations to the EdShift team for their dedication and hard work”

💙 Every Child Seen.
💙 Every Child Heard.

🏆 The Team Behind the Award 🏆

Last week, EdShift was honoured to win the Community Arts Award at the Yorkshire Choice Awards

Today, we want to shine a spotlight on the incredible team behind that achievement.

Supporting children and young people affected by domestic abuse is a privilege, but it is also deeply important work.

Every day, our team meets children who may be carrying fear, confusion, anxiety, grief, or trauma. Children who need safe spaces, trusted adults, and the opportunity to make sense of experiences that no child should have to face.

That kind of work requires a special group of people.

People that lead with compassion, courage, creativity and safety.

They show up every day with patience, warmth and dedication to help children feel safe, seen and heard.

This award represents the commitment, skill and heart that this team brings to their work every single day.

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who voted for us. Your support not only helped EdShift win an award, it helped shine a light on the children and young people at the heart of everything we do.

💙 Thank you for believing in our mission and supporting our team

💙 Thank You, Calderdale... and Beyond 💙

We're still taking it all in.

On Friday evening, EdShift was honoured to receive the Yorkshire Choice Awards award for Community Arts 2026.

What makes this award so special is that it was decided by public vote.

That means people took time out of their day to support EdShift, to believe in our work, and to help shine a light on children and young people affected by domestic abuse. For that, we are incredibly grateful.

Every vote was more than support for a charity. It was a vote for children to be seen, heard and supported. It was a vote for creativity as a tool for healing. It was a vote for a future where no child has to navigate the impact of domestic abuse alone.

As our CEO, Ellie Brook, said:

💬 "Winning this award sends a powerful message to children and young people affected by domestic abuse: your story matters, your life matters, and you are not alone."

We would also like to congratulate all of the other finalists and winners. We were proud to be recognised alongside so many inspiring organisations making a difference in communities across Yorkshire.

This award belongs to every child, young person, family member, volunteer, supporter, partner, trustee and member of staff who has been part of the EdShift journey.

Thank you for voting.
Thank you for believing in our mission.
Thank you for helping us bring this award home to .

The recognition means the world to us, but our focus remains the same: reaching more children and young people affected by domestic abuse with the support they need, when they need it most.

📣Announcement: Big news for Volunteers' Week🌟

We wanted to take the opportunity this Volunteers’ Week to make this wonderful Board announcement.

We're delighted to welcome Helen Jones as a Trustee and announce Kate Adamson as EdShift's new Chair of Trustees.

Helen brings extensive charity leadership experience and a deep personal connection to EdShift's mission.

💬 "I know first-hand how difficult childhood can be when you're facing adversity. That's why EdShift's work resonates so strongly with me. I'm proud to join the Board and support an organisation that is helping children find safety, confidence and hope."

Kate has been a Trustee since 2024 and brings expertise in strategy, marketing, brand management and communications to her new role as Chair.

💬 "I have been part of EdShift’s journey in one way or another from the early days, it is a privilege to now be in the position of Chair. I take the role very seriously and I am delighted to be able to make a difference to the organisation and to children’s lives"

We're grateful to both Helen and Kate for volunteering their time, expertise and leadership to help shape EdShift's future.

💛 Please join us in welcoming Helen and congratulating Kate.



Volunteers' Week
Kate Adamson
Antworks Community

💜Thank You to VAC 💜

As Volunteers' Week continues, we want to take a moment to recognise an organisation that has been part of the EdShift journey from the very beginning.

A huge thank you to VAC - Improving Local Lives (Voluntary Action Calderdale (VAC)) for the support, guidance and encouragement they have provided over the years.

When EdShift was just starting out, VAC believed in our vision and helped us navigate the challenges that come with building a new organisation. From practical advice and networking opportunities to championing the voluntary sector across Calderdale, their support has helped shape the organisation we are today.

As EdShift has grown, VAC has remained a valued partner, continuing to strengthen communities, connect organisations and create opportunities for charities like ours to thrive.

Our 2026 strategy recognises the importance of strong partnerships in helping us reach more children and young people affected by domestic abuse safely and sustainably. Organisations like VAC make those partnerships possible.

Calderdale is fortunate to have an organisation that works tirelessly behind the scenes to support local charities, volunteers and community groups. Their impact reaches far beyond any single organisation.

From everyone at EdShift, thank you VAC for standing alongside us, championing the voluntary sector and helping create a stronger, more connected Calderdale.

Volunteers' Week