More than 200 local residents joined over 24 organisations at Hebden Bridge Town Hall last month for the Upper Calder Valley Community Connections Event, a vibrant community gathering focused on mental health, wellbeing and strengthening local connections.
Hosted by partners from the Upper Calder Valley Neighbourhood Team, the event brought together organisations from across health, care, local government and the voluntary and community sector in a welcoming marketplace-style setting designed to showcase the wide range of support available across the Upper Calder Valley. The event provided a practical demonstration of Integrated Neighbourhood Working in action, with services working collaboratively to connect residents with support, strengthen community relationships and improve wellbeing.
Building on the success of the first Community Connections event held in Todmorden in 2024, this year’s event had a dedicated focus on mental health and wellbeing, reflecting one of the key priorities identified through the area’s Integrated Neighbourhood Working programme.
Throughout the day, visitors were able to speak directly with local organisations offering support and advice, while also taking part in a variety of wellbeing activities including singing for wellbeing, Indian dance, sound bath sessions, wood whittling and circus skills. The event provided valuable opportunities for people to learn more about local services, make new connections and discover support available within their community.
The event forms part of the Upper Calder Valley’s ongoing Integrated Neighbourhood Working journey, which brings together health, care, local authority and voluntary sector partners to deliver more connected, person-centred support for local people. By working collaboratively and strengthening relationships between services and communities, partners aim to improve access to support and help people receive the right care at the right time, closer to home.
Graham Mynott, Co-chair of the Upper Calder Valley Integrated Neighbourhood Partnership Steering Group said:
“This was a wonderful day. We’re really pleased with how many local residents came along and had a chance to meet health professionals and voluntary organisations who provide support with mental health along with information on wellbeing more generally. Everyone also had the chance to participate in a range of taster activities on the day too – which might have inspired them to try new things. This is definitely something we’d like to repeat again soon.”
Tony Martin, Primary Care Network Manager for Upper Calder Valley Primary Care Network (PCN), said:
“I’m really proud of what we’ve delivered here today. This is an excellent, real-life example of a neighbourhood, working collaboratively to create something of tangible benefit to our population. The fact that this event has a very clear wellbeing and mental health focus demonstrates that all organisations involved understand what matters to the people we serve.”
One of the standout moments of the day came at the close of the event, when members of ‘Chance to Dance’ led an impromptu disco session that quickly became the highlight of the afternoon. Residents, volunteers, professionals and community groups all joined in, filling the hall with music, laughter and energy.
What started as a simple dance session soon transformed into a celebration of community spirit, with people of all ages getting involved. The atmosphere perfectly captured the purpose of the event – bringing people together, reducing isolation, improving wellbeing and demonstrating the power of community connections.
The success of the event reflects the growing momentum behind integrated neighbourhood working in the Upper Calder Valley and the shared commitment of local partners to improving mental health and wellbeing through collaboration, prevention and community-led support.
Together, local organisations and residents are helping to build stronger, healthier and more connected neighbourhoods across the Upper Calder Valley.
More information about the work happening in the Upper Calder Valley Neighbourhood can be found here.
Pennine GP Alliance’s commitment to supporting Neighbourhood work
The Community Connections event was supported by Pennine GP Alliance (PGPA), Calderdale’s GP Federation, which works closely with Primary Care Networks and partners across Calderdale to help develop and strengthen Integrated Neighbourhood Teams.
As the employer of many of the staff working within Calderdale’s Primary Care Networks, Pennine GP Alliance provides the infrastructure, leadership and programme management support that helps neighbourhood teams to deliver initiatives such as Community Connections. Working across primary care, community services, local authorities, secondary care and the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector, PGPA helps bring organisations together around shared priorities and supports the development of more joined-up, person-centred care.
This collaborative approach aligns with the ambitions set out in the NHS 10-Year Health Plan, which places neighbourhood health services and integrated care at the heart of future healthcare delivery. By supporting partnership working, championing the role of general practice and helping to build strong local relationships, Pennine GP Alliance is playing an important role in creating sustainable neighbourhood teams that can improve access to services, tackle health inequalities and deliver care closer to home.