Celebrating the Success of 5 Years of Healthy Holidays Calderdale
Partners, providers, and colleagues came together at The Fleece Inn, Ripponden, to celebrate five successful years of the Healthy Holidays Calderdale programme. It was an evening full of gratitude, storytelling, and recognition for everyone who’s made this initiative such a lifeline for children and families across Calderdale.
The dynamic duo, Jess Johnson from Calderdale Council and Rachel Burnett from CFFC, opened the evening with a recap of the last five years sharing some staggering statistics and heartfelt reflections on just how far the programme has come.
Here are some of the achievements they’re particularly proud of:
- Nearly 7,000 young people took part, with over 30,000 meals served in just one year alone
- 40.1% of participants were eligible for Free School Meals, compared to the national average of 21.5%
- Providers are creating more SEND provision and involving families in delivery
- Sharing best practice between providers has become the norm
- Funding has reduced from £926k in 2021 to £895k in 2025, yet we’re delivering more with less through innovation and collaboration.
What makes them proudest of all is the dedication and creativity of the providers who consistently go above and beyond, finding solutions, showing resilience, and putting children and families at the heart of everything they do.
Sarah Richardson from Calderdale Council thanked everyone involved for their commitment and compassion, praising the way groups deliver not just meals and activities, but also give care and hope.
Cllr Danielle Durrans then shared her personal story bringing to life why this programme is so close to her heart. Her words reminded us all just how special Healthy Holidays Calderdale is and the huge difference it makes to local families.
There was also a creative surprise on the night. Rachel Oates read out a poem which was a heartfelt thank you, celebrating individual providers and including their unique stories and how much we value the extraordinary effort that goes into making this programme such a success.
The evening was about celebration, connection, and appreciation and was an opportunity to reflect on the people who have made the Healthy Holidays Calderdale programme more than just meals.
Take a look at our photo gallery below to relive the evening and join us in celebrating the brilliant people who make Healthy Holidays Calderdale possible.
