We’re All Active Calderdale: Sowerby & Sowerby Bridge

Active Calderdale
6 days ago
3 min read

2025 Winter Celebration

In the heart of Sowerby Bridge, St Paul’s Methodist Church stands as a welcoming community hub where people gather, connect and support one another. On Thursday, 11 December, its main hall became the festive and vibrant setting for the first We’re All Active Calderdale Winter Celebration for Sowerby and Sowerby Bridge.

The event brought together over fifty people, including representatives from community groups, clubs, volunteer organisations and residents. Attendees included people from Memory Lane Community Café, Litterfree Sowerby Bridge, The Cricket Asylum, and Sowerby Walkers & Ramblers. A committed team of volunteers from the Canal & River Trust’s towpath taskforce joined Friends of Crow Wood Park and Dixon Scar Woods, Sowerby Bridge Cricket Club, East Pennine Orienteering and many others.

The celebration was an opportunity to reflect on, share and celebrate the wealth of activity, connection and progress that has been building across Active Sowerby and Sowerby Bridge over the past two years.

Building Active Communities: The Background

Since the launch of Active Sowerby & Sowerby Bridge in October 2023, significant work has taken place to establish strong relationships across community assets in the area. While Sowerby village sits just a mile uphill from Sowerby Bridge, it can often feel disconnected from the facilities and activities available in the town centre. Yet, behind the scenes, community life is thriving.

Residents regularly come together at weekly warm lunches, classes and community gatherings delivered by Grassroots CIC at St Peter’s Community Centre and Sowerby New Road Family Centre. Down the hill, Foundry Street Community Centre has flourished since opening in November 2023 and now offers a full and varied timetable of activities.

Despite the abundance of opportunities, many residents remain unaware of what is available locally. The Winter Celebration was designed to change that—bringing people together, sharing stories and helping connections grow.

Sharing Stories, Celebrating Impact

The enthusiasm from groups and providers ahead of the event was overwhelming, and while space was limited, the programme was rich and engaging. Presentations and photo displays highlighted the success of Foundry Street Community Centre and Grassroots CIC, while heartfelt stories were shared from the Memory Lane dementia-friendly café, where members benefit from dance and movement during fortnightly sessions.

The Friends of Crow Wood Park reflected on the much-loved annual Great Get Together community event, while Litterfree Sowerby Bridge spoke passionately about their mission to have a litter-picking champion on every street, creating cleaner, more inviting spaces for people to be active.

Sowerby Walkers & Ramblers brought smiles with stories of popular weekend hikes and mid-week ambles, and the twice-weekly over-50s table tennis sessions at Foundry Street were vividly brought to life by new converts to the sport. Commendations were rightly given to the Friends of Crow Wood Park for their tireless work maintaining flowerbeds and activities on site.

Perhaps most powerful were the stories from Walking Cricketers at the Cricket Asylum, who shared how bi-weekly sessions have transformed their physical health, confidence and wellbeing. Alongside regular green volunteering at Milner Royd and Copley Valley, and the dedication of Canal & River Trust volunteers, it is clear that Sowerby Bridge ward is not only looking better, but feeling better too. Community effort and connection are at the heart of that change.

Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Sowerby & Sowerby Bridge

The celebration also looked to the future. Plans were shared for much-needed improvements to accessibility and safety at Dixon Scar Woods, building on recent investment at Allan Park, an underused playground and woodland site near Sowerby Bridge Station.

Active Calderdale is also working closely with Calderdale Council’s Highways team to develop accessible, inclusive walking and wheeling loops across the town, supported by clear maps and information boards. These routes aim to make it easier for everyone to move more, safely and confidently, within their local area.

Residents can find out more and get involved through the Walking and Wheeling in Sowerby and Sowerby Bridge initiative.

With a newly improved gym at Sowerby Bridge Leisure Centre, strong partnerships already in place and new connections continuing to form, there is much to be optimistic about. As we look ahead to 2026, Sowerby and Sowerby Bridge are well placed to continue building an active, inclusive and connected community.