Community Foundation For Calderdale

Focus4Hope: Louise Reed on why nobody is a number

Dean — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 15:04:11 +0000

Focus4Hope was a finalist for Charity of the Year at the Community Spirit Awards, recognising the organisation’s commitment to supporting people experiencing homelessness, isolation, poverty and crisis. We caught up with founder Louise Reed to hear about the journey behind Focus4Hope, the people who inspire her and her hopes for the future. What first inspired...

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Shared Harmonies: Emma Baylin on the power of singing together

Dean — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 14:11:11 +0000

Shared Harmonies began almost 13 years ago after founder Emma Baylin brought her love of singing together with years of experience supporting people. What started with one group in Halifax has grown across West Yorkshire, with more than 260 people now taking part each week. After Shared Harmonies won the Arts & Culture Award at...

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Meet Clare Townley: Giving a Voice to Sustainability Through Poetry

Dean — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 11:54:28 +0000

Clare (middle) and guests at the Community Spirit Awards 2026 For Clare Townley, sustainability is not just an interest or a career path. It is rooted in the values she grew up with and has become a lifetime commitment, strengthened through personal experience and loss and leading to an unexpected new creative journey. After receiving...

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Orange Box Choir: Jamie Eagleton on music, confidence and creating a place where people can be themselves

Dean — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 15:57:43 +0000

Orange Box Choir began in 2017 as an accessible singing project for young people in Calderdale. Nearly 10 years later, it has become an independent charity, with a strong focus on inclusion, wellbeing and giving people the chance to express themselves through music. We spoke to founder, project lead and safeguarding lead Jamie Eagleton about...

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Community Spirit in Action: Laura McDonald, Outdo Media

Dean — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 10:17:16 +0000

Some of the Outdo Media team infront of the sponsors wall at the Community Spirit Awards 2026 Outdo Media sponsored the photography for this year’s Community Spirit Awards, and their CEO Mike Brennan also joined the judging panel. What inspired Outdo to get involved in the Community Spirit Awards? We’re a national company, but our...

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Carers United: Katie Clarke on finding people who understand

Dean — Fri, 02 Oct 2026 14:12:36 +0000

Carers United brings together parents of disabled children from ethnic minority communities in Calderdale, where they can meet others who understand some of the pressures they face. After Carers United won the Making A Difference Award at this year’s Community Spirit Awards, we spoke to Katie Clarke about how the group began and what she...

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CFFC successfully renews UK Community Foundations Quality Accreditation

Dean — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 10:24:37 +0000

We’re delighted to have successfully renewed our Quality Accreditation with UK Community Foundations. QA6 looks at how community foundations are governed, how money is managed and how they remain accountable to donors, funders and the communities they serve. For us, it is an important reassurance that the systems, policies and financial controls behind our work...

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Celebrating the people who make Calderdale stronger: An interview with Community Spirit Awards Judge Emma Worsley

Dean — Fri, 25 Sep 2026 11:10:48 +0000

Emma is a regular judge for the Calderdale Community Spirit Awards As part of the Community Spirit Awards, we spoke to judge Emma Worsley about her connection to Calderdale, why celebrating the voluntary sector matters, and what stood out to her when reading the incredible stories of this year’s finalists. Emma is part of the...

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Arts Charity Dean Clough: Anita Cormac OBE on opening up art to everyone

Dean — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 08:49:56 +0000

Roger and Anita at the Community Spirit Awards 2026 Brightside Arts Café gives people living with dementia the chance to make art in a relaxed and welcoming setting at Dean Clough. The monthly sessions now have 48 active members, with their work regularly displayed in the galleries. After Arts Charity Dean Clough was shortlisted for...

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Cromwell Bottom: Simon Day on caring for one of Calderdale’s special places

Dean — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 15:20:41 +0000

Cromwell Bottom Wildlife Group Trustees – Martin, Simon, and David Cromwell Bottom Nature Reserve is one of Calderdale’s special green spaces, loved by the people who visit and cared for by a dedicated group of volunteers. After Cromwell Bottom Wildlife Group won the Sustainability Award at this year’s Community Spirit Awards, we spoke to Chair...

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