Calderdale charity wins Great and Green Community Spirit Award for The Outback Community Kitchen and Garden

Halifax Opportunities Trust’s The Outback celebrates Community Spirit Awards win!

Halifax, West Yorkshire – Halifax Opportunities Trust (HOT) is thrilled to announce it has won the Great and Green Community Spirit Award 2022 for the vast work The Outback Community Kitchen and Garden undertakes and delivers, in Park ward’s very own 1-hectare of green space. The inspirational Awards, co-ordinated by Community Foundation for Calderdale, took place on Thursday 24th November 2022 at The Venue, Bowers Mill, Barkisland.  

A beautiful award for Great and Green

Sarah Waddington, The Outback Co-Ordinator, says; “All our volunteers and staff have contributed their time and effort to make The Outback such a special place. I’m so proud of everyone who has been involved, this Award recognises our ethos, our approach and our values around a more planet friendly way of life.”

The Outback Community Kitchen and Garden is a unique community space in the heart of the Park ward community, directly behind Jubilee Children’s Centre in Halifax. The green space runs on organic and sustainable principles, the thriving garden is packed full of herbs, fruits and vegetables. There are lots of interesting areas for local people to explore and learn more about the natural environment, whilst the carbon neutral straw bale kitchen provides a perfect space for the local community to gather and cook food.

Alison Haskins, HOT CEO, comments; “We’re over the moon to win the Great and Green Community Spirit Award.  The Outback is a real asset to Halifax Opportunities Trust and the Park ward community. Not only does it provide a large open space for community activities and projects, it helps to reinforce the importance of nature, being outdoors and sustainable practices.

“Winning this Award is testament to the hard work that goes into making all this happen and we hope it raises further awareness about the great things we do.”

The Outback is not only home to a wide range of wildlife and mini-beasts, it hosts many sustainability, organic and gardening workshops for local people to learn about environmentally friendly practices and the small changes they can make to reduce their impact and improve their footprint.

The Outback was also recently recognised for a Certificate from the High Sheriff of West Yorkshire, Susan Baker, at the HOT Review of the Year in November 2022. These accolades offer recognition to the work of the charity and all involved in creating a welcoming environment at the Outback.

About the Awards

The Community Spirit Awards 2022 are co-ordinated by Community Foundation for Calderdale. They celebrate those who have gone above and beyond, either through their individual work or as part of a team, group or organisation.

The Community Foundation for Calderdale (CFFC) is a not-for-profit organisation devoted to supporting the hundreds of charities and voluntary groups across the borough of Calderdale. Its goal is to address inequalities and work alongside voluntary organisations and charities to create opportunities and help those most in need.

About Halifax Opportunities Trust

Halifax Opportunities Trust is a registered charity and a limited company, established since 2000. Our work focuses on making opportunities and building communities which involves, but is not limited to, helping people find new or better jobs, learn new skills, start or grow businesses and help raise their families.