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Tour de Yorkshire events capture the spirit of Calderdale

Nearly £7000 has been awarded to voluntary groups to help them stage an unforgettable array of events to celebrate the Tour de Yorkshire coming to Calderdale.

A cycling stunt show, song writing workshops and a community picnic are just some of the exciting activities that people will be able to enjoy, thanks to a fund created by Calderdale Council to support local events linked to the Tour de Yorkshire, to help get communities involved and boost visitor numbers. 

Just like the Yorkshire Festival ahead of last year’s Tour de France, local events will play a big part in the inaugural Tour de Yorkshire, showcasing all that’s great about Yorkshire and Calderdale’s arts and culture. The Council’s events fund shows its commitment to continuing the cultural legacy and reaping the benefits for tourism in the borough.

Calderdale Council’s Director of Communities and Service Support, Robin Tuddenham, said:

“We were very impressed with the funding bids we received from local groups – they have come up with some really exciting ideas for events. We’re delighted to help make them happen and can’t wait to see communities coming together to celebrate the Tour de Yorkshire and having a great time. The events will showcase Calderdale’s wonderful creativity, culture, arts and community spirit, building on the amazing success of last year’s Yorkshire Festival and Tour de France. We are really keeping the momentum going, ensuring that Calderdale plays a part in this year’s Tour de Yorkshire, and building up to the regional cultural festival in 2016.”

The groups that were awarded grants, and the events that they are holding, are as follows:

Cragg Vale Community Ltd

The Council awarded £300 towards the cost of the Tour de Yorkshire celebration on Spaw Sunday on Sunday 3 May. This is a traditional event held on the first Sunday in May which involves a tour of local spas or springs, accompanied by Morris dancers and folk singers. This year it will coincide with the Tour de Yorkshire coming through Cragg Vale. It will involve local people, including schoolchildren and businesses, and there will be a community picnic.

Stones Methodist Church Sunday School

£417 will contribute to the cost of the ‘Take in Le Tour de Yorkshire’ event on Sunday 3 May – an afternoon of stalls and activities for the whole community and visitors. There will be a large screen to watch the Tour de Yorkshire.

Elland & District Partnership

£600 was put towards the successful cycling track open day at Brooksbank School’s cycle circuit on Sunday 19 April. Families enjoyed track cycling, races, coaching sessions and a guided Sky Ride on part of the Calderdale route made famous by the Tour de France.

Alternatiba Todmorden

The Council awarded £2000 towards the cost of a festival of ‘climate change alternatives’ on Sunday 3 May, which will involve local people and organisations working on climate change. There will be a series of conferences, debates, workshops, stalls, local food, music and children’s activities.

Calderdale Music Trust

£2000 will make the ‘Rhythm in the Riding’ event happen during the Halifax Food & Drink Festival on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 June. 10 Calderdale primary and secondary schools are working with a songwriter and poet in workshops to produce a Yorkshire-based song for each school. They will then perform the songs at the Halifax Food & Drink Festival to celebrate the Tour de Yorkshire. This builds on the great success of last year’s song written and performed by students for the Tour de France.

St Chad’s CE Primary School

The £1,640 award will help towards the cost of ‘Tour de ECLC 2015’. The event will include students, teachers and parents from 21 schools in the East Calderdale Learning Community, who will cycle around each of the schools, take part in activities and learn about healthy lifestyles. There will be a demonstration of cycling stunts by local young cyclists, and an ex-Olympic cyclist and British Cycling coach will offer coaching and skill development, supported by the Council’s Upbeat and Bikeability Teams.

More information

For more information about the Tour de Yorkshire and what’s happening in Calderdale, head to www.cyclecalderdale.co.uk(external link) and www.visitcalderdale.com(external link), and follow @InnerCyclist on Twitter.