Connecting communities
Yorkshire may be the country’s largest county, but we’re keen to help local people stay connected
Here we showcase the great work done by two fantastic projects in Yorkshire - providing an array of activities, workshops and classes for local people to enjoy and benefit from. These are some of the community hubs which make a real difference to local life.
This below information highlights the wonderful work done by community groups and services, complete with website details and even the Arriva bus you should catch if you fancy attending.
We really hope that this guide to the great charities, activity centres and community groups of Yorkshire helps you find the service you need. So, please explore the Yorkshire groups below, and discover just a few of the great services available in the area.
Eastmoor Community Project
For more than 20 years, the Eastmoor Community Project in Wakefield has been proudly encouraging local people to get involved with their local community and help those less fortunate. The project provides a series of services including adult education, job club, volunteer opportunities and more. These have been designed to help all members of the Eastmoor community improve their current situation and develop their personal skill set.
The project offers a great space for local people to come together: the community café is ideal for people to get together for a natter and a cup of tea, whilst the nursery helps young parents have an hour or so to themselves.The Eastmoor Community Project has made a great effort to ensure that no one in the local area feels alone or isolated, helping to bring the wider community together.
Find it on Google Maps: Eastmoor Community Project
Find out more on the website: Eastmoor Community Project
Catch the bus: 100 Wakefield to Eastmoor
Stay and Play at Project Hope - Leeds
This Stay and Play group for mums, babies and toddlers is run by Project Hope, a charity that is all about giving members of their community a better chance at success. A weekly group meeting on Wednesdays from 9:30am – 11am (during term time only), it features a soft play area, arts and crafts, stories and songs as well as refreshments.
Bringing together a network of parents, this group is a busy one but new mums and babies are welcome to come and try it out, with spaces becoming available regularly. Only costing 50p per person (so for mum and baby, it’s only £1 per session), parents are able to connect and make friends within their community whilst kids have a ball taking part in a range of fun activities provided by Project Hope.
Find it on Google Maps: Leeds Mencap
Find our more on the website: Project Hope
Catch the bus: Sapphire 163 Leeds to Castleford | Sapphire 166 Leeds to Castleford
Wakefield Libraries
Wakefield’s history with libraries goes back to the turn of the century. The first ‘free’ public library in Pontefract was built with money donated by the famous philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and was opened on 21st September 1905. The Art Nouveau building is now the Pontefract museum.
Today, Wakefield has a whole host of libraries across the city that are integral to the lives of the local people. Not only can people of all ages get access to a wide range of books, but they can even research into their local or family history. There are also children’s areas catering for the needs of all youngsters, from toddlers to teenagers. As well as this, the libraries offer a large network of computers with access to Wi-Fi, printing and scanning facilities.
There is so much more to do at Wakefield libraries than just read books. There are programmes of weekly activities designed to suit everyone and school or group visits are more than welcome. These varied activities and groups are designed to bring the communities of Wakefield together and are perfect for people wanting to interact with like-minded people.
You can find out more about Wakefield Libraries here:
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| Location | Arriva Bus Route | Map |
|---|---|---|
| Airedale Library – The Airedale Centre, The Square, Airedale, Castleford, WF10 3JJ |
| Find on Google Maps |
| Castleford Forum Library and Museum – Carlton Street, Castleford, WF10 1BB |
| Find on Google Maps |
| Featherstone Library and Community Centre – Victoria Street, off Station Lane, Featherstone, Pontefract, WF7 5BB | Frequenta 148 Wakefield to Knottingley
Frequenta 148A Wakefield to Knottingley
| Find on Google Maps |
| Hemsworth Library – Market Street, Hemsworth, Pontefract, WF9 4JY | 197 Ryhill to South Elmsall | Find on Google Maps |
| Horbury Library – Westfield Road, Horbury, Wakefield, WF4 6HP | Find on Google Maps | |
| Normanton Library and Community Centre – Market Street, Normaton, WF6 2AR | 188 Wakefield to Knottingley | Find on Google Maps |
| Ossett Library – Ossett Town Hall, Market Place, WF5 8EB | MAX 126 Dewsbury to Wakefield
| Find on Google Maps |
| Pontefract Library – Shoemarket, Pontefract, WF8 1BD | 188 Wakefield to Knottingley | Find on Google Maps |
| Sandal Library – Sparable Lane, Sandal, Wakefield, WF1 5LJ | Sapphire 110 Hall Green to Leeds | Find on Google Maps |
| South Elmsall Library – Barnsley Road, South Elmsall, Pontefract, WF9 2AA | 197 Ryhill to South Elmsall | Find on Google Maps |
| Stanley Library and Community Centre – Lake Lock Road, Stanley, Wakefield, WF3 4HU | 446 Wakefield to Leeds | Find on Google Maps |
| Wakefield Library and Museum – Wakefield One, Burton Street, Wakefield, WF1 2DA | MAX 126 Dewsbury to Wakefield
| Find on Google Maps |
U3A (University of the Third Age)
The U3A (The University of the Third Age) provides groups from a number of sites in Yorkshire. Aimed at people of retirement age, the varied selection of activity groups provide great opportunities for people to learn new skills, enhance their knowledge and meet new people. Check the table below to discover if you’re local to a bus route taking you to a nearby U3A group.
| Location | Website | Arriva Bus Route | Map |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sherburn and Villages U3A | https://www.sherburnu3a. org/ | 493 Sherburn Industrial Estate to Pontefract | Find on Google Maps |
| Selby U3A | https://u3asites. org.uk/selby | 403 Selby to Leeds | Find on Google Maps |
Please note – the information listed is for guidance only, and we’d recommend visiting the website of the group you wish to attend for group-specific information, such as rules of attendance and up-to-date location information.
We hope the above has helped you find a regional class, activity centre or support group to help you, and has provided all the information you require.
We’re keen to continue adding to this list of brilliant community groups and arts centres, with more fantastic places throughout Yorkshire. If you’re a member of a great community group in Yorkshire and want us to know about it, please contact us on [email protected].
For more information about Arriva’s services and bus timetables throughout Yorkshire, please visit our homepage. Or, to find out more about loneliness and social isolation, head back to our main feature page, here.