An exciting new chapter has begun in Calderdale’s story, and everyone can play a part.
Vision 34 for Calderdale is an inspiring, long-term ambition for the whole borough that all residents and organisations can jointly work towards, to help make life better for everyone.
Over 200 people saw the launch of the Vision at Calderdale Council’s ‘We are Calderdale’ event on Thursday 26 June 2025.
Now a flagship annual gathering, the event at Calderdale College showcased the Vision themes through speeches, films, performances, stories and interactive discussions.
The Leader of Calderdale Council, Cllr Jane Scullion, opened the event and the Council’s Chief Executive gave a closing speech, in which he announced the borough’s latest tourism figures as part of what makes Calderdale great: the visitor economy was worth nearly £650 million in 2024 – the best year since records began, up from £600 million in 2023 – with 7.9 million visitors (a 4% increase from 2023).
The event attendees were encouraged to think about their hopes for Calderdale by 2034, and contributed to a special time capsule that’s in the making and was introduced at the event.
They heard how Vision 34 was created over the past two years, through conversations with over 1000 diverse people from all walks of life and all parts of the borough, all sharing their stories, thoughts on what makes Calderdale great and their dreams for the future:
In 2034 Calderdale will be an enterprising place, full of opportunity, where we can all live a larger life.
We will always be kind and welcoming. Everyone will have reason to be full of hope and this will enable us to thrive and get us through testing times.
We will be celebrated for our distinctive heritage, nature and creativity that everyone can enjoy.
Everyone has a story to tell, and these stories will bring the Vision to life. Residents and organisations can tell their own stories and share photos and videos on the ‘My Calderdale Story’ website: https://my.walls.io/mycalderdalestory(external link)
Grace Berry from Calderdale told her inspiring story at We are Calderdale. She is a perfect example of the Vision 34 theme of enterprise, having set up her own dog training and walking business, Wag-N-Sniff.
Grace said:
“Wag-N-Sniff is proof that when you follow what you’re obsessed with, and stay grounded in your values, you can build something meaningful. Calderdale’s been the right place for that. It’s connected, creative and full of people who back local enterprise. I’ve got big plans: we’re developing tech, growing partnerships and making dog training more accessible – without compromising on quality.”
Cllr Jane Scullion, Calderdale Council’s Leader, said:
“We are ambitious for Calderdale – we all want it to be a great place to live, work, play, learn, visit and invest. Vision 34 brings us together with a direction, shared values, stories and a sense of belonging.
“This is a Vision that truly belongs to everyone – right from the get-go, local communities have been at its heart to ensure it’s what people want, and this will continue over the next 10 years. So please do get involved – it’s your stories and images of life in Calderdale that will keep the Vision alive and authentic.
“Let’s look forward to the next 10 years, let’s celebrate what makes our borough unique, and let’s use the Vison to guide our goals and actions to build a better Calderdale together.”
Use the hashtag #MyCalderdaleStory on your favourite social media platform or post stories directly to https://my.walls.io/mycalderdalestory(external link)
ENDS