While Calderdale’s Year of Culture 2024 came to a close in April 2025, the memory of the fantastic events and activities and the new relationships forged through shared cultural activity, will live on for a long time. As part of leaving a legacy for Calderdale, and working towards the councils Vision for 2034 Calderdale Council are launching CultureDale Connect Fund: Bringing people together through shared cultural activity.

The emphasis of this fund is to build social cohesion in Calderdale, through cultural activities. Social cohesion happens when people from different backgrounds meet, mix and get along. The work of cohesion and integration is about developing neighbourhoods, workplaces, institutions and social spaces where difference is welcomed and celebrated.  It is about creating opportunities where empathy and curiosity about people ‘not like me’ are encouraged. When this happens, we can move beyond ‘us’ and ‘them’ towards ideas of kindness, trust and social cohesion between groups of people.

The Connect Fund is providing grants of up to £5,000 for projects promoting social cohesion between September 2025 to September 2026. You can read the full guidance document and apply via Community Foundation For Calderdale's website linked below, and this online launch event will give you an opportunity to learn more about the fund's requirements, aims, and the application process. Please join the meeting at 11am on Thursday 7 August using this link: Join the meeting now.

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