Calderdale sports and fitness centres in Brighouse, Sowerby Bridge and Todmorden are now part of the network of warm and welcoming spaces in the borough.
Warm and welcoming spaces are safe, friendly places where people can gather for free. Some venues offer hot drinks, activities and other services such as free wi-fi.
There are lots of designated Warm and welcoming spaces in Calderdale, including all Calderdale libraries. Sports centres across the borough are now joining the network, providing a social warm space, with warm drinks and accessible toilets. Anyone is welcome to turn up, on the following days and times:
- Brighouse Pool and Fitness Centre – Thursdays 1.30-4.30pm and Fridays 11am-12.30pm
- Sowerby Bridge Pool and Fitness Centre – Tuesdays 3-5.30pm and Thursdays from 1-2.15pm.
- Todmorden Sports Centre – Wednesdays 2.30-4.30pm and Fridays 10am-12noon.
Calderdale’s Warm and Welcoming spaces were initially established in 2022 as ‘Warm Spaces’.
Calderdale Council, West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Community Foundation for Calderdale provided a pot of funding which was available to the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector to provide warm spaces, amongst other affordable warmth schemes.
The success and effectiveness of these spaces has been assessed as part of research the Council conducted in partnership with Leeds Beckett University. Based on the 2022/23 provision, the aim of this work was to evaluate the Warm Spaces in Calderdale and find out what worked well, who used the spaces and the impact they had on people’s health and wellbeing.
The work involved speaking to people attending and those running the spaces, which included surveys and focus groups and data analysis of footfall.
The research findings were positive and found that Warm Spaces had a positive impact on physical and mental health, with particular benefits identified through social connections, reducing energy used at home and financial support.
The report findings have helped to inform provision for warm and welcoming spaces this winter and beyond, which are open to everyone to use. As a result, many spaces this year are also offering additional social activities and providing technology, such as Wi-Fi, to further support people.
To find out more about warm and welcoming spaces across the borough, including a map showing the locations, visit https://new.calderdale.gov.uk/benefits/money/find-warm-space(external link)
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Services and Communities, Cllr Danielle Durrans, said:
“It’s great that the Council has been able to expand its provision of warm and welcoming spaces this winter, with sports centres joining our 12 libraries in offering welcoming spaces with warm drinks and activities.
“We’re also grateful for the many other organisations who support the warm and welcoming spaces programme at venues across the borough. Research has shown that having this local provision is really beneficial for people’s health and wellbeing, not only helping with cost of living pressures, but also providing a friendly and welcoming space where people can meet, chat and enjoy activities.”
Professor Anne-Marie Bagnall, Director of the Centre for Health Promotion Research at Leeds Beckett University, said:
“We are really pleased to see the positive impact that our evaluation of warm spaces in Calderdale is having.
“Our research shows that offering welcoming and safe spaces for people to gather can boost social connections and wellbeing in the community as well as helping to improve health and reduce poverty for people most at risk.”