Embedded Files
Energy Neighbours - Nov 2023 to 2025
Funded by TSL Kirklees
Growing out of the Community Buildings & Energy Project, Energy Neighbours is a project that puts communities and community organisations at the heart of action on energy, and on climate change. Starting from community priorities, Energy Neighbours aims to build on the skills, organisations, connections and experience of some communities with the lowest income. Through activities, learning, volunteering, community networking and organisation development the project will help communities to act on energy concerns to improve local lives and build resilient communities. Community volunteers and organisations will shape how the project works through share learning and decision making. Evaluation and learning will be shared widely. TSL Kirklees has developed the project and is seeking funds.
Tom4charities led the development and wrote the funding application which secured £935k for TSL Kirklees.
Update (Aug 2025): with key project staff in place, I have no formal role in the project at this time. Tom has some voluntary involvement through Kirklees Climate Commission.
Community Buildings Network - May 2023 to now
Funded by TSL Kirklees
Bringing together third sector organisations managing community buildings to reduce energy use and cost. We are working together to understand our buildings, plan works, find funding and finance, learn from each other, get advice and find trusted contractors. The network works together to seek funds to support our communities to reduce their energy use and cost.
The Community Buildings Energy Survey Report presented data from 72 local community buildings providing evidence of concern and activity in the voluntary sector on energy issues.
In 2025/6, the Community Buildings Network continues with funding through TSL Kirklees, with the Kirklees Climate Commission taking over the management of coordination. Tom continues to coordinate the network, contracted by the Commission.
Update Aug 2025: Email communitybuildingsnetwork@gmail.com for more information about the network
Threadbear Theatre Charity - Nov 2022 to Feb 2024
Threadbear Theatre perform Playback Theatre where they improvise performances, often including music and voice, from real-life, emotionally rich stories told by audience members. Threadbear aims to bring diverse people together to improve our understanding of each other, improve social inclusion and connect us to our common humanity. Threadbear offers training and workshops to develop Playback Theatre skills which include deep listening, improvisation, forms and patterns, making and receiving offers and trust. Performances and practice can be emotionally moving and deep, though they are also usually filled with laughter and play too.
I have been involved in Threadbear for over seven years, as an actor, musician and trustee. I led on establishing Threadbear as a charity, registering it as a CIO in Nov 2022. Sadly, we were not able to organise ourselves to work as a charity, so the charity closed in Feb 2024.
Members of Threadbear Theatre continue to be involved in creative community activities in all kinds of ways across West Yorkshire, but not as Threadbear.
Mapping VCSE Maternity and NeoNatal Support in West Yorkshire - Sept 2023 - Apr 2024
Working with voluntary sector infrastructure organisations across West Yorkshire, this project aims to map all the support and services provided by the third sector to women from conception through to having a child of twelve weeks. Support can include targeted services, advocacy, self and mutual help and support to partners or family.
Tom contacted over 70 organisations across West Yorkshire
In partnership with TSL Kirklees. Funded by HPoC.
Kirklees Climate Commission - Aug 2021 to now
Tom has been a Commissioner since the start of the Commission, bringing the perspective and values of the third sector to his role.
The Commission has incorporated as a non-profit company and has appointed some new commissioners in 2025.
Climate Voices - Aug - Dec 2021
Climate Voices was a short-term project enabling and capturing community conversations about climate change and feeding the findings into the Global Assembly, which reported to COP 26.
Tom volunteered to devise the project, develop the methodology from Global Assembly ideas, and write the final report. He was supported by a small diverse group of volunteers.
Friends of Highfields Community Orchard - 2009 to now
From a community campaign, through guerrilla gardening in 2010 to a recognised community green space for fruit, play, community, nature and wellbeing.
In 2025, the orchard is thriving, with mature fruit trees and regular community events. Tom is still chair of the management committee.
See the Highfields Community Orchard Facebook Group
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