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Areas of activity

Community partnerships

The Sustainable Development team works in partnership with community organisations to deliver environmental projects. We do this through supporting and promoting their work, acting in an advisory role on steering groups or working on joint projects.

The main community partners with which the Sustainable Development team works are given below. Links to their websites are provided for further information.

Calder Future

Calder Future| is a unique not-for profit partnership organisation which aims to improve the River Calder, its tributaries and bank sides and the canal corridor. Partners range from major organisations with substantial resources and responsibilities, small community groups and local volunteers. Current partners include:

Partnership summary

The aim of Calder Future is to facilitate the involvement of local people and partners in projects to improve the waterways in Calderdale. The project is about giving people the opportunity to conserve local rivers and canals and create places that people want to live, work and play beside. The Calder Future Partnership creates solutions to problems on the waterways and provides opportunities for local volunteers to get involved in improvement projects along the Calder Valley from Todmorden to Brighouse.

Partnership working with the Council

Calder Future and the Council have been working together since the organisation was set up in 1998. Activities include:

• Production of The Calder Future in Calderdale - A Strategy for Future Progress
• The Highways team have been instrumental in mapping the access points to the riverbank and assisted in the production of maps
• The Countryside Service has been working with Calder Future on bankside improvement schemes
• The Countryside Service has assisted in a baseline survey of the river corridor, including a survey of ecology, access and land use
• The Parks and Streetscene Service are supporting volunteering as part of their work in North Halifax
• The Rights of Way Team are working with Calder Future on footpath improvement in Ovenden
• The Planning Team have provided advice and guidance on planning applications required for new footpaths
• The Regeneration team encourages community involvement in Calder Future projects.

Following on from the Council working group, a wider partnership was set up and produced a five year strategy, The Calder Future in Calderdale – a Strategy for Future Progress. The Sustainable Development team ensures that all Council departments implement this strategy within their different work areas.

Calderdale Sustainability Forum (CSF)

CSF is an umbrella body for groups, organisations and individuals concerned with promoting sustainable development in Calderdale. CSF encourages the exchange of information, expertise and ideas on issues relating to sustainability and is currently involved in education and awareness-raising activities throughout the borough.

The Council’s Sustainable Developmentteam was instrumental in setting up CSF, and is now one of many partner organisations involved.

For further information see: Calderdale Sustainability Forum|.

Green Business Network

The Green Business Network (GBN) was established in 1995 to help small and medium-sized businesses in Calderdale and Kirklees to improve their environmental performance. The Sustainable Development team has been a supportive partner of the GBN throughout its lifetime and continues to sit on the Steering Group.

The GBN assists local community organisations in implementing environmental projects, by securing millions of pounds through landfill tax credits and other sources. The GBN has promoted effective partnerships between the public sector, business and the community in pursuing this work.

The GBN's work is informed by a real commitment to social inclusion, and its projects actively involve the long-term unemployed, socially-excluded young people and those with disabilities.

For more information see: Green Business Network|.

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