“Together we are stronger and more resilient.”
That was the key message of an inspiring ‘We are Calderdale’ event on Thursday 26 May 2022 at Calderdale College in Halifax.
We are Calderdale has become a flagship annual event for the whole borough, bringing local people and organisations together to reflect on achievements and look to the future as part of the Vision2024 for Calderdale.
Hosted by Calderdale Council and Calderdale College, in partnership with Trinity Sixth Form Academy, this year’s gathering was both in person and streamed online.
The theme was ‘Calderdale Together – together we are stronger and more resilient’. In the toughest moments over the last two years, Calderdale’s kindness, community spirit, hope and determination to bounce back have got us through. It is this togetherness and resilience that will drive the ambition to rebuild and jointly achieve the Vision2024 for Calderdale, with less than two years to go until the borough’s 50th anniversary.
The event was formally opened by Tracy Brabin, the Mayor of West Yorkshire, with speeches from the Leader of the Council, Cllr Tim Swift; the Council’s Chief Executive, Robin Tuddenham; and Trinity Sixth Form Academy students. Thought-provoking speaker panels covered topics from innovation, collaboration and care, to homelessness, asylum and Age Friendly Calderdale.
The audience were moved and inspired by Halifax Academy’s Khadija Noor’s powerful and heartwarming poem about her love for Halifax and Calderdale. Young people were at the heart of discussions on how local people have collaborated, innovated, supported communities and responded to the climate emergency.
There were also performances, films and a ‘market place’ with information stands from a range of Calderdale organisations. A special announcement got people excited about the launch of ‘CultureDale’, building on Calderdale’s position as a cultural destination leading up to our Year of Culture in 2024.
Cllr Jane Scullion, Calderdale Council’s Deputy Leader, said:
“The energy of all our diverse community partners being together was really powerful, bouncing ideas off each other, learning and innovating. The event was an example of Calderdale’s togetherness at its best, and gave us great hope and optimism. It was a real celebration of our past, present and future, with amazing stories from local people.
“The top five feelings described by the event attendees, ‘Proud, hopeful, happy, interested and positive’ summed up not only the success of We are Calderdale, but also the pride in our borough and the determination to work together to rebuild from the pandemic.”
To watch a replay of the We are Calderdale event, please visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmIeWj8KWj0&feature=youtu.be(external link)
The year 2024 marks Calderdale’s 50th birthday. Where do we want to be by 2024? What’s our ambition and what will be different? Find out more at www.calderdale.gov.uk/vision