People like me

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

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

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

For Jane, staying active isn’t as simple as going for a walk or popping out for the day. Living with long-term nerve damage and heart complications, including a triple heart bypass 25 years ago, means every day looks a little different.

When a friend first invited 71-year-old Sylvia to an exercise class at The Space @ Field Lane, she didn’t quite know what to expect. They started with the keep-fit session after lunch, and from the very first class, Sylvia knew it was something she wanted to continue. Although she had done a little bit of exercise before, joining the Friday Gentle Exercise class with Jackie gave her something consistent and supportive to look forward to each week. The sessions are friendly an

Paula Williams, age 54 I’ve always had an interest in physical activity and have long recognised the positive impact it has on both my mental and physical wellbeing. I first took up running in my early 40s. At the time, I had young children and faced financial barriers to accessing other activities, so running felt like something simple and achievable. I’d also experienced breast cancer at the age of 38 and was determined to do everything I could to stay fit and healthy and r

Resident A I live in Rastrick and I’m currently living on my own after coming out of a long, controlling marriage. That experience left me isolated from my family and friends, and rebuilding my confidence has been incredibly challenging. Both my therapist and counsellor encouraged me to start getting out more and to be around people again, but taking those first steps felt overwhelming. The Parish Centre at St Matthew’s has played a major part in helping me move forward. It h

I’m Maisy, I’m 18, and I’m from North Halifax. I first heard about the Beechwood Youth Bash on North Halifax Partnership's Facebook page and noticed they were running a free pop-up skatepark. I’d always been interested in skating and wanted to learn, so I decided to go along to one of the Wednesday evening sessions, without really knowing what to expect. I ended up having an amazing time. Hardy, the skatepark coach from Skate It Yourself, was brilliant. He showed me the basi

I’m Ben, I’m 19, and I live in Mixenden. Before the new basketball court was built at Mixenden Urban Park, the old one was basically unusable. The surface was uneven and covered in loose, broken rocks, and the hoops were bent, distorted, and missing nets. Basketball has always been a passion of mine, but this was the only court anywhere near me. Because of how bad it was, I could only spend an hour or so a week practising, and even then, it was hard to get anything out of it.

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 with Grass Roots CIC . In October 2024, she became a volu