At a time when we are facing a cost-of-living crisis, with worries over raising energy bills and food prices we just wanted to share a positive story reminding us that we live in a lovely community and if we work together, we can make things happen.
Back in June, we asked you some questions about what life in Kirkburton and Highburton was like. This was your opportunity to share your experiences of Burton and share your ideas for the future.
One Friday evening I popped along to Kirkburton Cricket Club during junior training to have a chat with some mums and dads, hoping to get some conversations going and to encourage people to take part in the Ask Burton initiative.
It was during a group chat that one of our village youngsters said that he wished he knew some first aid. He had been out with friends when one of them had an accident, he didn’t know what to do, but another friend, who had previously had first aid awareness training calmly stepped in and knew what to do to help.
This conversation stuck in my mind and knowing that KHCA had just launched a grant scheme to help fund local initiatives I approached the group with the idea of providing first aid awareness to a group of youngsters. First thoughts where to make contact the local representatives from football and cricket thinking we might have interest from around 30 youngsters. It soon became apparent that we could have more interest and the logistics of getting sessions at a suitable time was harder than first thought.
Fast forward a few months, conversations with various training providers and our 3 village schools, we are pleased to say that we have secured training for over 550 pupils. In January 2023, Year 5’s at both Kirkburton First School and Highburton First School, along with Years 6, 7 and 8’s at Kirkburton Middle School will all be given the chance to attend first aid awareness sessions within school. Workshops will be carried out by Yorkshire Ambulance Service and Skills4Life Education & Training Service with funding provided by KHCA and our local Cllr John Taylor.
A message to the youngster, Sam, who planted that seed back in June, who, in his words said, ‘kids are often asked for their ideas, but nothing ever comes of them’. Share your ideas, you never know who is listening, and whilst many times these promises of ‘we can do that’ may be too good to be true, on some occasions we can do it.