Rastrick's Active Champion

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 local community member were needed to better engage residents from across Rastrick, including those on the Field Lane estate, not only in physical activity, but in the centre’s broader programme of activities.

Before this work, many sessions were not as well attended as hoped and operated at a financial loss. However, the team running the centre believed in the value of helping people move more and were determined for the activities to continue despite the challenges. This dedication laid the groundwork for stronger engagement and more sustainable participation.

There was also the opportunity to further support those who were already attending the centre, mainly through the lunch clubs, to move more during their time at the local community centre.

A role was created and signed off by the Active Rastrick community panel to work towards the following:

• Provide opportunities for people to be active within the Community Café sessions e.g. pool, golf putting, and walks.

• Let people know the benefits of being active through conversations, posters etc.

• Ensure people in Rastrick/Field Lane are aware of how to be active in Rastrick (leaflets, social media, conversations etc.).

• Work with staff/volunteers at The Space to codesign a physical activity challenge for staff to take part in

• Offer to accompany people to exercise classes at The Space who may be nervous about attending.

• Increase the attendance of current physical activity sessions in Rastrick, particularly at The Space.

• Promote and lead on the 3,2,1 walks and wider Rastrick walks, with the model of them becoming volunteer-led

• Ensure the messaging of physical activity promotion is clearly visible at The Space.

• Ensure physical activity is on the agenda when planning future events at The Space.

The Space management team appointed Rastrick resident Gemma Murphy and valued the role so much that they decided to give it a better chance of creating impact by matching-funding the 6 months, creating a year-long post.

Gemma's Active Rastrick journey

From my perspective as an Active Champion, the role was always about one thing: making movement feel possible, welcoming, and part of everyday life.

I spent time finding simple, practical ways to weave activity into what people were already doing. At our lunch clubs, for example, we introduced movement cards on tables using a traffic light system, giving people the choice of how active they wanted to be. It meant movement didn’t feel forced; it felt personal. We backed this up with small prompts too, like posters encouraging people to move while waiting in the queue, and regular in-house challenges that brought staff and volunteers along on the journey with us.

“It’s about showing people that being active doesn’t have to be a big commitment; it can start with something small and manageable.”

What really stood out was how the community responded when things felt inclusive and achievable. Our Rastrick Riddle step challenge is a great example; over 300 people took part, contributing an incredible 10.7 million steps in just five weeks. The impact went beyond the numbers. People became more aware of their activity levels, more motivated, and more open to getting involved again.

One participant summed it up perfectly: “I have really enjoyed the challenge idea, it’s made me more motivated to increase my activity levels.”

Accessibility played a huge part in that success. By offering ways to take part both online and in person, we removed barriers and made it easier for people to join in, in a way that suited them. That same approach shaped how we developed our sessions. When some classes weren’t working, we listened. After speaking with staff, volunteers and the community, we adapted and saw attendance grow from just two people to eleven in our new Dance Fit sessions.

“We made sure it was something people actually wanted and needed, not just what we thought would work.”

Creating a safe, non-judgmental environment has been just as important as the activities themselves. Whether through social media, word of mouth, or simple flyers, the aim has always been to reach people in ways that feel comfortable and familiar, and to make The Space somewhere people feel supported.

Of course, not everything has been straightforward. There were times when people expressed interest or even requested sessions, but didn’t attend when they were delivered. Understanding those barriers hasn’t always been easy. That’s why we’ve focused on reframing what counts as movement, encouraging everything from walking up the stairs to doing the housework as valid and valuable activities. For many, that shift in mindset made taking the next step feel far more achievable.

One of the most valuable lessons for me has been the importance of collaboration. Sharing what’s worked and what hasn’t, with other community groups, has been key.

“Connecting with others and learning from their experiences has made a real difference in shaping what we do.”

Ultimately, the Active Champion role has shown me that small changes, delivered in the right way, can have a big impact, especially when they’re built with the community, not just for them.

Impact on Rastrick

Anthony Whittaker, Public Health Practitioner for Rastrick, shared his reflections on the impact of the Active Champion role at The Space @ Field Lane over the past year, and the difference it has made to the local community.

"One of the biggest successes has been the way the centre has connected with local people. Through everything from estate walkabouts and chats at the school gates to a growing social media presence, Gemma helped reach more residents than ever before. This has led to a real boost in attendance, with popular activities like bingo nights seeing more people come through the doors, alongside a rise in participation in exercise classes.

Listening to what people want has been key. By shaping sessions around community feedback, exercise classes have grown from just a couple of attendees to regularly welcoming groups of 10 or more, creating a more social, supportive and enjoyable experience.

The centre itself now actively encourages people to move more. With posters, conversations, and regular signposting to opportunities both in-house and across Rastrick, being active has become part of the everyday culture at The Space.

Social media has helped support this too. Consistent, engaging posts have not only raised awareness but helped make physical activity feel normal and accessible. This is reflected in the strong growth of the Active Rastrick Facebook page.

Importantly, the energy hasn’t stopped with one person. Staff have fully embraced the approach, continuing activities and challenges even after the Active Champion role ended. This shows just how embedded the message has become, supported further by new wellbeing initiatives for staff and volunteers.

Sustainability has been a real highlight. Much of the work has continued seamlessly, with physical activity now part of day-to-day roles. Exercise sessions, community partnerships, social media engagement, and active conversations are all still going strong."

Reflecting on the journey, Anthony highlights the importance of the Active Champion role in building trust and encouraging more people to get involved.

"Gemma’s strong connection to Rastrick helped her engage with residents in a genuine way, empowering them to shape activities themselves. This not only boosted participation but helped bring new people into the centre and encouraged more active lifestyles across the community.

Overall, it’s been a year of learning, progress, and lasting impact, laying strong foundations for the future."