Celebrating community, connection and positive ageing
In October, we celebrated International Day of Older People 2026 with two fantastic community events in Elland and Sowerby Bridge, bringing people together to discover the activities, groups and support available right on their doorstep.
With the support of Calderdale Council, our What’s on Your Doorstep? events welcomed 104 people to explore local opportunities, try something new, meet new people and find out more about what their local communities have to offer.
Held at Elland Community Hub on 14 October and Foundry Street Community Centre in Sowerby Bridge on 20 October, both events created a friendly, relaxed space where people could take part at their own pace, ask questions and discover something new — with no pressure to commit.
One of the most important things about the events was helping people discover opportunities they might not have known existed.
By bringing community groups, health and wellbeing organisations and local support services together, we were able to make a wide range of information available in one accessible place.
Something for everyone!
We know that finding a new activity or group can sometimes feel like a big step. It can be difficult to know what’s available locally, where to start or whether something will be right for you.
That’s why we wanted to bring a wide range of local organisations together under one roof, making it easier for people to explore what was on offer without any pressure or commitment.
There were activity taster sessions to try, information stalls to browse, talks to learn from and plenty of opportunities to meet people and enjoy lunch together.
Whether people wanted to find a new hobby, explore ways to keep active, learn more about health and wellbeing, discover local support or simply enjoy a day out and a chat, there was something to spark their interest.
The taster sessions were a particularly important part of the events, giving people the chance to experience an activity for themselves before deciding whether they wanted to take it any further.
As one attendee explained:
“No pressure environment – was good to try something first before joining.”
Another attendee described the day as:
“It’s an excellent opportunity to try new groups and meet new people.”
Impact!
We were delighted by the response to both events, with feedback showing just how much people valued the opportunity to come together, learn something new and explore what their local communities have to offer.
Here are some of the highlights:
That means 94% of respondents said they would or might join a group following their experience.
These figures are really encouraging. They suggest that providing opportunities to try activities in a friendly, informal setting can help people feel more confident about getting involved and exploring something new.
But the impact isn’t just about numbers. It’s also about the conversations started, the information shared, the activities discovered and the connections made throughout the day.
When asked what they enjoyed most, attendees highlighted trying something new, dancing, meeting people, finding out what was available locally and feeling welcomed and encouraged.
One person summed it up simply:
“Keep having these sessions – it’s great to find out what is out there.”
Thank you to our community
A huge thank you to all the local organisations, community groups, staff and volunteers who helped make the events such a success, and to everyone who came along and took part.
We’re also grateful to Calderdale Council for its support in making these events possible.
International Day of Older People is an opportunity to celebrate the experiences, contributions and potential of older people in our communities. These events were a wonderful reminder that there are so many opportunities to stay active, discover new interests, build friendships and feel connected.
There’s so much happening on our doorstep — sometimes all it takes is the chance to discover it.
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