Farnley Tyas Community Group
Farnley Tyas Community Group is dedicated to fostering a strong and connected community in the village. This site is a resource for the local village community, and includes information about events in the village and how you can get involved.
Click here to download the latest newsletter and other FTCG information.
New to Farnley Tyas? Click here for some useful local resources.
Come and Join In!
The FTCG meets at the Bowling Club on Woodsome Road on the first Wednesday of each month at 7.15pm. We discuss all things Farnley, and how we can improve our village, making it a truly welcoming place for villagers and visitors alike.
We would love you to come along and share your ideas with us - the Community Group is open to all comers. Just turn up!
(And yes, there's a bar!)
Click here for a map to the Bowling Club.
The FTCG - who we are and how we started
Farnley Tyas Community Group evolved from a small group of people who wanted to make sure the wishes of the residents regarding the future development of Farnley Tyas were taken into account when Kirklees Council was working on a Local Development Framework. The group obtained funding from the Yorkshire Rural Community Council for a Community Plan, and delivered questionnaires to 160 houses.
As a result of the feedback, an open meeting was held in the Bowling Club in October 2006, a Committee was formally elected and a constitution was drawn up. A sub-committee then produced a Community Plan, based on the results of the questionnaire, which was printed and delivered to every household in the village in 2008. The FTCG is formally affiliated to the Kirkburton District Civic Society.
What does the Community Group do?
The objectives of the FTCG are to:
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Represent the interests and concerns of village residents to the local authorities and other stakeholders
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Organize and support various initiatives and projects that benefit the village and its residents
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Provide a platform for dialogue, cooperation, and mutual assistance among the residents
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Encourage the participation and involvement of all residents in the group's activities and decision-making
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Preserve and celebrate the cultural, historical, and natural heritage of the village
We have organised three scarecrow festivals since 2010, a car rally treasure hunt in 2017, a garden safari in 2018 and 2024, a race night, numerous quiz nights including one in 2022 in support of Ukraine which raised £1,110, and we have supported local resident (and current FTCG chair) Nick in his wonderful outdoor production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 2019 and A Christmas Carol in 2022.
We also organised events for the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, all raising money at different times for church roof, church clock, church kitchen extension, new swings, school playground and the local hospice. All great fun and all well supported by local residents.
We also fill the flower tubs round the village, we set up the monthly Tidy Tyas litter pick, we collect for the SMaSH food bank regularly at our meetings, we donate Christmas presents for Farnley schoolchildren, we have taken on the running costs for the defibrillator from the WI, we organised the memorial for our oldest resident, Eric Briggs - basically we will do what people want us to do - but we do need more of you if you can spare just a bit of time now and then.
Who runs the Community Group?
The day-to-day running of the Community Group is by a Committee of up to 12 local residents, who are elected each year at the Annual General meeting. The Officers of the Committee are the Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and Communications Officer alongside up to seven other members.
Chair
Nick Wade
Nick became chair in 2023 after the previous chair retired. He moved to the village seven years ago with his husband Ben. He works for NHS England as an improvement deputy director and enjoys running and amateur dramatics. Nick directed performances of A Midsummer Nights Dream (2019) and A Christmas Carol (2022) in the village. He also co-ordinates the monthly Tidy Tyas litter picking group and the Farnley Readers book group.
Vice-Chair
Neil Harris
Neil has lived in Farnley Tyas for eight years with his wife, Lydia. Neil works as an Operations Director at The University of Sheffield. He loves the local countryside and he and Lydia, as keen runners, are often out on an early morning run on the fields and roads around the village.
Secretary
Susan Moloney
Susan, who is originally from the North East, has lived in Yorkshire for many years and recently moved to Farnley Tyas. She is really enjoying living in this lovely village, meeting many friendly people and walking her little dog in the beautiful countryside.
Treasurer
John Wright
John was born in Huddersfield and moved from Outlane to Farnley Tyas in 2014. He first encountered the FTCG as a visitor and was voted onto the Commitee in 2016, becoming Treasurer in April 2018, responsible for overseeing the finances. John enjoys the country life, walking, wildlife, travel and motorcycling.
Communications Officer
Neil Smith
A relative newcomer to Farnley Tyas (August 2021), Neil started attending the monthly community group meetings as a way of getting to know some of the Farnley Tyas residents, and to become more involved in the work the FTCG does in and around the village. He recently redesigned and relaunched the FTCG website (as he comes from an IT background).
Social Media and Committee Member
Ben Harvey-Wade
Originally from Wakefield, Ben is a keen brass band player and works for Unison, the trade union. Ben and Nick both enjoy getting out and about in the beautiful countryside and try to keep it that way through taking part in the monthly Tidy Tyas litter pick events. As well as helping out at FTCG meetings, Ben handles the FTCG Facebook group and Instagram page.
Committee Member
Julie Davies
Awaiting biog.
Committee Member
Linda Roebuck
Linda came to Farnley 7 years ago from Essex after she retired. Her husband Richard was born in Honley and runs an IT business. Linda walks her two little dogs every morning, helps in the community garden and is neighbourhood watch coordinator.
Committee Member
Richard Wood
It was Richard who came up with the idea of a Community Garden at the recreation ground and he has been involved in its development through regular Garden Gang activities. He was also instrumental in launching the successful Farnley Film Club in 2023, which is due to return later this year in the Autumn.
Committee Member
Adam Schewtschuk
Awaiting biog.