People like me

Back in September, 10-year-old Isaac won several medals whilst representing Team GB at the Special Olympics North West Swimming Gala in Blackpool. Since joining the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) swimming lesson programme at Sowerby Bridge Pool, Isaac has flourished into a strong swimmer and was able to start training as a Team GB athlete at a competitive swimming club. Isaac came away with a Gold, Silver, 4th place and a super speeding ticket where he took

" I live with my wife in Rastrick and I'm a member of St. Matthew's Anglican & Methodist Church. Staying physically active has always been important to me. Over the years, I’ve found different ways to keep moving, whether it’s going for short walks, heading out on cycle rides, or enjoying horse riding. These activities not only help me stay fit but also give me a sense of freedom and connection to the outdoors. Recently, my doctor recommended I try Pilates to help improve my

Siddal Litter Picking Taskforce Siddal Community Clean-Up are a litter-picking taskforce initiated by local resident, Toni Holmes, in April 2021.   Toni's Story When Toni moved into the area, she started walking to help her lose weight. At first, she’d stroll through Exley and along the A629, until one day she discovered the canal. That became her go-to route, a 3-mile round trip from her front door that took about an hour, well… depending on how long she stopped to watch the

I’m 52 years old and I’ve lived in the Park Ward community my whole life. For many years, I led a fairly inactive lifestyle, especially after developing some long-term health conditions due to an accident. After struggling to find motivation to work out, I found myself lazy, spending most of my time at home with very little routine or motivation to do more. The staff and volunteers at Unique Community Hub were very welcoming and helpful from the first day I joined. The Hub w

" My name is Afraa and I live in Halifax with my family. I don't go to any clubs because my dad can be too busy and says I can just play in the street, and my mum doesn't drive. Before joining Unique Community Hub , I wasn't very active, and I only walked to and from school. I struggle with paying attention, and I don't really enjoy learning at school, but I always have lots of energy, and I get frustrated because I'm always so bored. This is the first girls' club in our are

" My name is Anas and I live in the Park Ward area with my mum and brother. Growing up, I’ve always had an interest in being active, but it wasn’t something I prioritised consistently until the last few years. Recently, I’ve taken more deliberate steps to incorporate physical activity into my daily routine. One of the biggest barriers I’ve faced has been back pain, which sometimes made even basic movement challenging and affected my overall motivation. This physical discomfor

Getting to know the community in Sowerby Bridge has brought Active Calderdale into contact with Carolyn Scott – a local resident and volunteer turned physical activity provider. Carolyn delivers accessible and inclusive, upbeat movement sessions to groups at Memory Lane Dementia Cafe at St Paul’s Methodist Church and Foundry Street Community Centre in Sowerby Bridge and at St Peter's Community Centre in Sowerby village. In October 2024, she became a volunteer Active Champion

Glofit Gold in Rastrick is a dance class with a difference. Aimed at older adults and suitable for wheelchair users, it offers a low-impact way to enjoy movement to the uplifting beats of the 50s, 60s, and 70s.

When St. Augustine’s Charity provided me with a bike, it transformed my daily life.

Social Action at Beechwood Park helps young people join Halifax Boxing Club.

This welcoming running club is all about friendship, not finish lines.

Friendly group and 1:1 sessions help residents stay well.

Over the past 18 months, we have made great strides in improving our practices and processes in support of creating environments that will m

Continuing from our recent blog on Light Up BACH, we’re diving deeper into the direct impact of integrating physical activity into their pro

Continuing from our recent blog on Light Up BACH, we’re diving deeper into the direct impact of integrating physical activity into their pro

Aisha shares how movement brought confidence and connection.

Limelight Theatre School has long been a cherished fixture in Calderdale, supporting aspiring performers in bringing theatre to life.

Chris, hurry up, we’ve only got five minutes until we need to leave! After putting the laptop into sleep mode and finding my trainers and ke

As part of the community-led investment in Mixenden, Active Calderdale has recently funded two walking trails: a History Hike and a Wild Wal

Many events in Kelly’s childhood years led her to try drugs and alcohol at a young age.