Inspire. Motivate. Transform (IMT) is a feel-good lifestyle brand focused primarily on older adults, promoting the improvement of physical and mental wellbeing through dance, movement and connection with the mind.

Active Champions play a key role in delivering our mission of making physical activity an embedded part of everyday life in Calderdale. They are pivotal in inspiring others to be active and driving forward change in communities. But what does it mean to be an Active Champion and what does the role entail?

Halifax Boxing, Sport & Fitness Club is a community-based club which supports people from all backgrounds. They run on a not-for-profit basis as a social enterprise, meaning any surplus is ploughed back into the club and their work. They aim to include people from all parts of the community in activities at the gym to help promote health, wellbeing and community engagement. Below, club member Ian gives his account of how joining the over 60's circuit training has positively impacted his wellbeing.

Staff from Adult Services & Wellbeing in the Upper Calder Valley have been engaged with Active Calderdale for the last couple of years. All of their staff have completed “Moving Medicine” training, enabling them to speak with confidence to older adults about incorporating activity, however small, into their daily routine.

One of the barriers to being physically active can often be the cost, particularly at a time when the cost of living is rising. Exploring ways to reduce such inequalities is a high priority for Active Calderdale particularly when concerning our priority groups.

Calderdale groups and organisations have been signing up for the Quality 4 Health and Wellbeing (Q4H) accreditation in their droves recently, and as a result, will benefit from a £500 windfall.

The accreditation is designed to provide evidence to commissioners and funders that organisations have achieved exceptional standards of health and wellbeing service delivery. This is closely aligned with Active Calderdale principles, with physical activity being one of the key elements.  

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many aspects of people’s lives suffered greatly and access to physical activity provision was no exception. That was the case for a group of ladies from Stones Methodist Church, who used to attend a keep-fit session there before the Covid lockdown drastically affected their daily routine.

More recently, however, interest had been growing in setting up a new fitness class and in December 2022, Stones Methodist Church was supported to enable a tutor to provide 13 weeks of gentle exercise classes.

Carers Wellbeing Service Calderdale currently offer a wide range of services to unpaid carers in Calderdale with over 2,500 unpaid carers registered with them. These services include information and advice, access to carers needs assessments, support groups and social activities. 

The ‘Weekly Wellbeing Hour’ is the brainchild of CEO Julie Robinson, and as a result, colleagues have been utilising this hour to look after their general wellbeing, which for some has naturally led to an increase in physical activity.  

Active Calderdale envisions a community where everyone has the capability, motivation, and opportunity to lead an active lifestyle. Our mission is to work collaboratively with communities, making physical activity an integral part of daily life. To achieve this, we engage and support partners, embedding the promotion of physical activity into their initiatives.