Sam and Matt at the awards evening.
What’s that lovely trophy on Sam’s mantelpiece?
November saw a rare occasion for Curious Motion, there were no joggers or trainers in sight! We were all dressed up for a very special evening at the Calderdale Community Spirit Awards, an annual event that brings together community organisations and individuals from across Calderdale to celebrate the work they do.
A vast array of wonderful people and organisations were celebrated, including those that support disabled people, people of colour, mental health, provide green spaces… the list goes on and on.
Green living, in fact, was the theme of this year’s awards, with a focus on sustainability central to the proceedings. We were encouraged to wear secondhand or reworn outfits, and the Outback Community Kitchen and Garden provided pots of chutney and honey from their vegetables and bees – so lovely!
Very excitingly, we won in our category! We proudly shared the ‘Arts & Culture’ award with EdShift, who provide arts based learning to children and young people to provent domestic abuse and sexual violence. I was very pleased that our category was included in the evening; a highlight that arts are a practical, important, and effective way to provide support to communities.
One of the things that struck me about the evening was how generous and kind people are capable of being. Great amounts of care are poured into all aspects of the voluntary sector, with people often working in difficult situations that require nuance, sensitivity and deep respect for others. While an award ceremony doesn’t solve community issues, I do believe there is value in acknowledgement; a mental health boost for volunteers and employees to know that people really appreciate the work that they do. In Calderdale alone there is such a broad range of services provided, and it’s hard to imagine how people’s needs around access, mental health, and physical wellbeing would be met without them. And I suspect that with the cost-of-living the way it is, these organisations are growing more and more important by the day. Funding, and real world support for these organisations is therefore vital; a fact that the Community Foundation for Calderdale (CFFC) is certainly aware of – in addition to organising the ceremony, they provide grants for nonprofits too. In fact, we have just been notified of some funding coming to us from CFFC to support our new programme for children and young people in the New Year – Stories in Motion! Thank you CFFC!
It was overall, an evening of joy and celebration, punctuated by the solemn awareness of the very real issues our communities are faced with everyday and the true kindness shown by all the organisations and people present. The voluntary sector is an essential element of the fabric of Calderdale, and the UK, providing vital support that is second to none.
Congratulations and a big ‘thank you’ to all of the other nominees and winners of the evening.
If you would like to find out more about the other organisations and people involved in the evening, you can find them here.
Wishing you a very Happy New Year!
Isla x
