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Over 400 residents and 14 local organisations came together to take part in the Park Ward Around the World Challenge, a community-led physical activity initiative designed to encourage people to move more while strengthening community connections. Created through a series of co-design sessions involving local organisations and community representatives, the challenge was built around a simple but ambitious goal: work together to complete a virtual journey around the world by

Feeling safe and confident in your community is something everyone deserves. That's why The Space @ Field Lane Community Hub recently hosted a free self-defence workshop for women, empowering residents with practical skills and increased confidence. The idea for the workshop came directly from conversations with women in the community. Through informal discussions with residents, staff at The Space identified concerns around personal safety, particularly when walking alone at

On Saturday 11 July, people from across Calderdale gathered at Savile Park in Halifax to take part in the annual Overgate Hospice Colour Run, enjoying a day filled with colour, fun and fundraising. More than 1,700 participants joined the event, which has become a highlight of the local calendar. The 5 kilometre route takes runners around Savile Park playing fields, where they are showered with coloured powder at various points along the course. The event ends with a lively "C

Event: Magic Weekend 2026 Venue: Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool Fixture: Halifax Panthers LDSL vs Sheffield Eagles LDSL (2 matches) Halifax Panthers Learning Disability Super League team had the privilege of taking part in Magic Weekend, one of rugby league's showcase events, at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool. Nineteen players travelled to represent the club, with every member of the squad featuring across two fixtures against Sheffield Eagles LDSL. The event prov

Joanne Aston, 58, from Littleborough, working in Todmorden I have always been active, but probably even more so over the last 35 years, especially after having my children. Being active has always been something I enjoy. Whether it's walking, running, getting out into the hills, spending time in parks or following canal paths, I love being outdoors and enjoying the fresh air. Alongside outdoor activities, I've also enjoyed a variety of gym classes over the years, including ki

Before joining Active Teams, I was already reasonably active. I attended the gym three to five times a week, with my main focus being weight training, alongside some light cardio on the exercise bike and regular walking. If I'm honest, I would have firmly placed myself in the "no cardio" category. Having been plus-size all my life, cardio never felt particularly comfortable for me and, when I was younger, it was something I avoided for a variety of reasons. Discovering Active

Through our workplace wellbeing project, Active Calderdale worked with North Halifax Primary Care Network (PCN) and staff from two of its GP practices to explore simple ways of building more movement into the working day. Before joining the project, the PCN had identified a growing need to support staff wellbeing. Many team members spent long periods working at desks and on computers, with limited opportunities to take breaks or be physically active during the day. Together,

In February 2025, a new Under 16s girls' rugby team was established at Siddal Rugby Club by just five players and two committed volunteers. At the time, there were no local rugby opportunities available for girls in this age group, leaving many young people without access to the sport. Since then, the team has gone from strength to strength. Thanks to the dedication of players, coaches and volunteers, the squad has grown to more than 20 players, supported by up to four coache

Old Earth Primary School has been working with Modeshift to help make journeys to and from school safer, healthier and more sustainable. Through the Modeshift STARS and Active Travel Inspectors (ATI) programmes, pupils are playing an active role in identifying practical improvements that could encourage more people to walk, wheel, cycle or use public transport for everyday journeys. Pupils at the Heart of the Project The project brings together several partners, including Mod

Active Calderdale is continuing to support St Malachy’s Primary School in Halifax as it strengthens its commitment to active and sustainable travel. Working in partnership with Calderdale’s Modeshift Officer, Sophie Kirkby, the school is developing its Travel Plan and encouraging more pupils and families to walk, wheel, cycle and scoot to school. St Malachy’s achievements were recently celebrated during a WOW – Park & Stride event delivered by Living Streets, where the school

Tazim Akhtar - 54, Park Ward Before joining the walking group, I wasn’t very active apart from looking after my grandchildren. I spent a lot of time at home, and because I enjoy sewing, much of my day involved sitting down. Over time, this led to weight gain as well as back problems and general aches and pains. When I was younger, I was always active, but as I’ve gotten older, that has changed. I realised I needed to start moving more again, otherwise my health would continue

Qudsia Naeem - 40, Park Ward Before joining the gym, I didn’t really have many consistent opportunities to stay active. I would sometimes sign up for classes or activities, like a local squash club, usually because people I knew were involved. I always gave them a try, but they never lasted long. I’ve always enjoyed being active, so it was always disappointing when those opportunities came to an end. There were also a number of barriers that made it harder to take part regula

The Space @ Field Lane is a well‑established community centre at the heart of Field Lane, Rastrick. It offers a wide range of services for local residents, including a warm space, exercise sessions, bingo nights, a community café, and more. Active Calderdale has been working in partnership with The Space for several years to embed physical activity into the centre’s core offer. Although various exercise classes were set up, it became clear that the insight and connection of a

Nasreen Akhtar – 51, Park Ward Physical activity was never really on my radar and wasn’t something I saw as being “for someone like me.” I’m in my 50s, a wife, mother and grandmother, and I’ve always believed my role in the home was to care for my family and look after the house – cooking, cleaning and everything in between. This is what I grew up knowing, and it’s what feels normal to me. I don’t see it as a burden, but I also didn’t realise what opportunities were available

Rukhsar Ali - 31, Park Ward A year or so ago, I stopped going to the gym and gradually became less active. Over time, I gained weight and started to feel really low about myself. I reached a point where I knew I needed to make a change. Rejoining the gym wasn’t easy; it took a lot of encouragement from the staff and the friends I’d made there previously. But eventually, I took that step, and I haven’t looked back since. At first, it felt really daunting. One day, the gym was

Santosh and her daughter Satvinder moved to Calderdale a few years ago after spending much of their lives relocating across the country through Satvinder’s career in filmmaking. Today, Satvinder is not only a creative professional but also a committed carer to her mum, who lives with a learning disability alongside a range of physical and mental health challenges. After arriving in Calderdale, they faced significant difficulties in accessing the right support and, at one poin

Since we first shared the story of the Mixy Marchers, Mandy’s journey and the group itself have continued to grow and evolve, while staying true to its roots. The walking group is still going strong in Mixenden, with between 6 and 19 women attending, depending on people’s circumstances. What hasn’t changed is the supportive environment it offers - a safe, friendly space where women can walk, talk and build confidence together. While Mini Marchers and netball sessions are no l

Name – Jensen Age – 11 at the start – now nearly 13. Jensen has faced more challenges than most children his age. Diagnosed with autism, he was non-verbal for the first five years of his life. It wasn’t until his younger brother came along that Jensen began to speak, a huge milestone, but one that still left him playing catch-up socially and academically. For years, Jensen struggled to find his place. More than a year ago, while attending high school with support from a SEN t

To coincide with National Walking Month, we were delighted to partner with Chris from North of England Activities and Training (NEAT) to deliver Walk Leader Training for staff and volunteers from Calderdale’s growing network of Active Travel Hubs. Hosted by Project Colt in Elland, the session brought together fantastic representation from across the borough, including IOU Hostel (Hebden Bridge) and Ride, Roll & Stroll (Brighouse). It was a great opportunity to connect, share

Since forming in December 2022, Sowerby Walkers & Ramblers have been leading the way in creating inclusive, welcoming opportunities for people across Calderdale to get out and walk together. The group meets most weekends, usually around midday, exploring the area’s stunning landscapes and waterways. Their motto says it all: “Hike Yourself Happy”, and true to that, they head out in all weather, sharing fresh air, friendship, and feel-good moments every week. A walking evolutio