Following the successful Community-led Workshop in July, a number of new initiatives have started up and are in progress in the villages of Cornholme and Portsmouth.
The villages in this beautiful border area of Calderdale have been identified as areas where health inequalities and lack of facilities are real obstacles to people being more active and improving their health and wellbeing.
Active Calderdale have been consulting with the people who live and work here to try and find solutions that will work for them long-term.
The community have shared their wants and needs and Community Project Manager Emma Carter has been working in partnership with community hubs, physical activity providers and key residents to put ideas into action.
Latest News
- Cornholme resident, Rebecca Slaven of Inspire Motivate Transform and one of our Active Champions is passionate about encouraging and supporting more people to be more active. Her proposal for a new weekly Keep Fit class for the over 50s has been successful and is starting next week.
- Active Calderdale has invested in a new weekly gentle Yoga class, inclusive and accessible to all, which started on 30th October. Fifteen relaxed, happy people emerged after an hour with Debra Gray, a yoga teacher keen to bring the benefits of this activity to these villages.
- Forest School Healthy Holidays sessions will commence in Summer 2024 with Calder Community Cares and the Lionesses leading the way in filling a gap for low-income households - providing fun, outdoor activities in the school holidays.
- Ten keen walkers completed a day’s Walk Leader Training last week with Splat training. We are now supporting them in setting up a range of walking groups in the villages to encourage more people to get out and about and explore their surroundings.
Community Feedback
Thoughts from some of those who participated in the Walk Leader Training:
Thoroughly enjoyed the walking leader course and cannot wait to put some of the ideas of walking into practice.
Training Participant
I've led several thousand miles of walks without the need for training but accept it's good to have a fresh focus and reminder that some walkers may need much more support and reassurance before setting out.
Training Participant
I feel more confident in group leading, planning and preparing.
Training Participant
The session was really good, nice pace and very relaxed but got the key messages across through discussion or individual exercise. Most of the attendees appeared to be very local and they were all very welcoming and friendly.
Training Participant
Comment from a participant in the new Yoga class:
Really enjoyed this evening’s first yoga class at Vale Baptist Church. Nice group run by the lovely Debs. Got more out of it than I anticipated. Great that we have this opportunity on our doorstep. Will defo be back with my daughters-in-law next week.
Yoga Class Participant
What's Next?
Active Community Project Manager Emma is supporting the Walk Leaders to create an investment proposal for further training, necessary equipment and resources to set up walking groups.
Emma is also working with community partners to co-design a plan for improvements to the outdoor area of the Old Library to encourage and support more people to be more active - both at the community hub itself and for activities to start and end there. There is also scope to invest in a new Tai Chi class and gentle exercise for people with limited mobility as part of the Lionesses weekly session.
An Active Parks and Green Spaces working group has formed and had a first planning meeting for the investment to create safer, more accessible, and more attractive parks and green spaces in the villages.
Based on what the community has told us, we’re looking at some sustainable options to improve some of the key areas to encourage more people to be active and enjoy where they live more.
Emma Carter - Active Calderdale Community Project Manager
To find out how you can #PlayYourPart in Cornholme and Portsmouth e-mail Emma.Carter@calderdale.gov.uk.
