Active Ambassadors leading the way in Todmorden

An Active Ambassadors pilot is helping more people in Todmorden and the wider area become active by putting skills, training and resources directly into the hands of local people.

The pilot, delivered by Aron Harper-Robinson from AHR Inclusion and Emma Carter from Calderdale Council's Healthy Communities team, brought together representatives from a wide range of local community groups, including older adults' groups and disability organisations, local leisure providers and faith communities, with a shared ambition: creating more opportunities for people to be active in ways that feel accessible, welcoming and relevant to their communities.

The programme began with a multi-sport taster day, where attendees tried activities including table tennis, indoor curling, soft archery and accessible squash. The event also provided an opportunity to build connections, share experiences and identify practical ways to encourage more movement across different communities.

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Joining the Todmorden residents were three Community Activators from Halifax who have worked with Aron over the past few years to establish Squash from the Mosque for Muslim women and teenagers. Each of these women are now huge advocates for being active, and they came to share their own inspirational stories and experiences with the group.

Listening to each person in the room, it became clear how important physical activity had become in their daily lives and the value everyone placed on good health.

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Since the taster day in February, Emma and Aron have now delivered a range of tailored sessions for local community groups. Members of the University of the Third Age (U3A) particularly enjoyed trying indoor curling and archery, while the Lionesses of the Valley worked with the community kitchen at Todmorden Health Centre to introduce table tennis, archery and indoor curling into their weekly gatherings.

In April, fitness instructor Vicki from Todmorden Leisure Centre hosted a multi-sports drop-in session, and further taster activities have been delivered with Muslim women at Todmorden Learning Centre, as well as children at the local mosque. These sessions have been energetic and inspiring, helping to build enthusiasm and momentum across the community.

The focus has always been on creating opportunities that are enjoyable, inclusive and easy to access. Rather than expecting residents to attend unfamiliar venues or join established sports clubs, the project has taken activity directly into spaces where people already feel comfortable and connected.

The impact is already being seen. Community groups are beginning to embed activity into their regular programmes such as floor curling at U3A, and local leaders are gaining the confidence and skills to run sessions themselves.

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Support is now in place to help groups become self-sustaining, including access to training, equipment and small grants to purchase resources. A community space at Todmorden Health Centre has also become a growing hub for activity, providing a trusted and accessible venue for residents.

New developments are continuing to emerge, including activity programmes for children, opportunities for families to take part together during the school holidays and plans for community-led sessions at local events.

Perhaps the most important outcome is that trusted people within the communities are increasingly leading these opportunities. By investing in local knowledge, relationships and enthusiasm, the Active Ambassadors pilot is helping create lasting opportunities for more people in Todmorden to move more and improve their health and wellbeing.