The Good Shepherd Centre

The aims of The Good Shepherd Centre are to empower, engage and educate economically and socially disadvantaged people in Keighley and surrounding areas in order that they may be better able to participate fully in society.  The Centre is open to all and we have a good reputation for bringing people together from diverse backgrounds.  We are also known especially for our support for families and individuals from Central and Eastern Europe (mainly Polish, Slovakian and Romanian, several of whom are Roma).  Refugees and immigrants from other parts of the world (Africa, India, and the Middle East) also make use of our services.

We have been working with diverse communities for over 10 years and have built up considerable relevant experience and skills, including

• Multilingual and interpreting skills
• Familiarity with government systems for accessing benefits and residency rights
• Registration with OISC (Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner)
• Running social support sessions
• Running accredited courses in partnership with local Colleges
• Mental Health Peer Support (2 workers are accredited at Level 3)
• Registration as Hate Crime Reporting centre

We support our communities in many different ways as listed below.  Our ethos is very welcoming which has been vital to building up trust with a number of different communities.  We are well-known amongst statutory bodies for having good relationships with “hard-to-reach” people in this area.

• Drop-in advice and advocacy, usually in the client's own language, on a range of issues including employment, school places, health matters, housing, hate crime reporting and workplace discrimination
• Parent and toddler group, offering opportunities for parents to make friends, and to receive support and signposting to relevant services from the Centre staff.
• Coffee morning for every age group to encourage more social interaction for isolated and lonely people.
• Medical support in partnership with local GP practices, offering health checks and advice at Parent and Toddler sessions and Coffee Mornings. We operated as a Covid Vaccination Centre during the pandemic.
• Free Counselling sessions
• A range of free courses including Adult Literacy, English Language, Maths, Digital Skills, Emergency First Aid Course and a Horticulture accredited course in partnership with Keighley and Craven Colleges and our volunteer teachers also conduct ESOL classes.
• Youth Club for 11- to 19-year-olds providing games, art and crafts, music & dancing, sports
• Mental Wellbeing Support Group
• Assistance with European Settlement Status applications, in partnership with the Home Office, Bradford Council and the Italian Consulate etc.
• Luncheon Club for any age and nationality particularly for elderly, isolated, people with mental health to combat loneliness and isolation. This is supported by children from local Primary Schools, which brings benefit to both age groups.
• Family Fun events throughout the year, e.g. to celebrate the Refugee Week, Platinum Jubilee, Family Picnics, International Events, Women’s Day, Mother’s Day, etc. which builds community cohesion and brings the diverse community together.
• Volunteering opportunities for our community to enabling them to increase their confidence and build their skills
• Work experience placements for school, college and university students
• Delivering food and furniture to deprived families