Ilkley Community Network

Ilkley Community Network – with ‘Ilkley’s Got Heart’ as its Strapline acts as a Monthly catalyst meeting that engages the Ilkley community, voluntary and community sector, local businesses and local Councils in working towards shared goals to benefit the Ilkley community. 

It works to: 

• enhance community spirit to benefit the Ilkley community. 

• increase means of communication/ community awareness. 

• Enable people to listen to ideas, explore opportunities and discuss matters of shared interest or concern to the Ilkley community. 

• Encourage support and co-operation for a range of initiatives that are brought by the various representatives. 

• Improve collaborative working on community projects. The organisation generally does not lead on initiatives, and wherever possible, there is usually a clear ‘lead Agency.’ 

Mary Hamilton from Ilkley Community Action said: “Ilkley was ahead of the rest of the district reference Corona Virus in its coordinated local support. In my opinion this is because of the closer working between the community, local council and Area Ward Officer which was established well before the Corona crisis – thanks in the main to the Ilkley Community Network having already brought us together for other projects in the town.” 

The Group has developed a Friends Group with Terms of Reference and clear Membership with Ilkley Town Council formal recognition. Being inclusion of Community and Commercial concerns in Ilkley. The Group helped to Plan a Community Volunteer Showcase in May 2019 with Mary Hamilton of Community Action Ilkley & helped Develop a Health Forum at The Clarke Foley Centre as well as run the Prepared to Save a Life campaign. 

In 2020 they hope to look into supporting any development of a Town Hall Community Hub, possibly Plans for a Day Conference in partnership with Town Council and Climate Action Ilkley, work with the BID team on Visitor Experience, Mapping of Defibrillator machines in Ilkley & development of Website and mission statement & strapline ‘Ilkley’s Got Heart’ as well as continue development of a Friends initiative. Friends are; The Wheatley Hotel, LCF Law, The Riverside Hotel, The Dalesway Hotel, Ison Harrison Solicitors, Stowe Family Law, Tesco, Lishman Butchers, Booths, Jeremy Bloomfield Jewellers, La Stazione Café, Mortens, Martinez Wines, Café J & Reserve, CHRIS WOODHEAD, M&S, Ilkley Brewery, Majestic Wines, Monkmans, COOP, Community Action Ilkley Volunteer Bureau, Ilkley Good Neighbours, Clarke Foley Centre, Ilkley Round Table. Ilkley Chat, Ilkley Business Forum & Ilkley BID, Soroptomists, Westbrook Agency, Ilkley Town Council & Bradford Met District Council, John Shaw Surveyors, Dacre Son Hartley, Allison & MacRae Architects.