“A good life is a collection of happy memories”
Here’s a look at all the amazing things we’ve built together for the communities we serve:
2025 so far….
Let’s Dance 2025 – a UK initiative by Angela Rippon CBE promoting health and joy through dance – inspired us to create a local event to share the benefits of movement and dance with as many people as possible. Thanks to the generosity of local dance facilitators, our community had the chance to experience a wide range of dance styles, including ballet, dance fitness, swing dance, bhangra, 5Rhythms movement, and a lively freestyle disco. The celebration took place across two venues – Todmorden Learning Centre and The Town Hall, Hebden Bridge – encouraging participants to “dance down the valley.” The day ended with a warm sense of togetherness over a delicious home-cooked meal, lovingly prepared by Lionesses Of The Valley.
This event wouldn’t have been possible without the funding and support of the Staying Well Calderdale Upper Valley team, and the incredible efforts of our volunteers. All sessions, food, and refreshments were donation-based, and together we raised £525 for the Overgate Hospice Big Build Appeal.
The atmosphere was alive with energy, colour, and community spirit. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with many asking “When can we do it again?!”
In 2024, through funding from Locala Health & Wellbeing, we delivered exercise and movement taster sessions to community groups across Calderdale.
Engaging with over 100 people, we demonstrated how movement, and dance – a form of exercise – can be adapted to suit all abilities making it accessible, enjoyable, and meaningful for everyone. The sessions highlighted how fun, creativity, and social connection can go hand-in-hand with improved mobility, cognitive function, strength, and wellbeing. The groups we worked with were:
- Overgate Hospice Hubs – Todmorden & Hebden Bridge
- Living Well Cancer Support, Todmorden
- Vale Baptist Church Harvest Hoe Down, Cornholme
- Ageing Well Together event, Mytholmroyd
- People’s Park Festival, Halifax
- Midgley Community Group
- Our Place, Calderdale
We were thrilled to secure funding towards a Great Get Together event in local villages in Todmorden. This was a vibrant community event that brought together neighbours, friends and families in a celebration of unity and local spirit. It was a huge success and people are looking forward to this being an annual event and we will be sure to get involved again next year!
In 2023, we partnered with Ukrainian dance facilitator Sasha on a project commissioned by Todmorden Learning Centre to explore the rich history of global dance styles and bring them to life through community workshops.
We also delivered dance and movement workshops to community groups including Basement Recovery Project and Dementia Friendly Todmorden.
Sept 2022 A dance class for Healthy Minds Calderdale Open Mic Celebration Event
In July 2022, we launched a year-long project in collaboration with Calder Community Cares and local families, using dance to promote health, well-being, and creativity through movement in Cornholme, Todmorden. Check out the video here
June 2022 An inclusive dance session for people with learning disabilities