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Every couple of years we ask everyone involved with Healthy Minds to please give us around 10 minutes of their time to complete this survey. We call it a "census" as we invite everybody to complete it to give us comprehensive information about who is involved and what people think about what we're doing.
The information collected helps us to obtain ongoing funding and improve services. Your answers are anonymous: no details that can identify you will be included in any reporting. Full details about the purpose of this survey and how we protect your privacy are at the top of the form, which you can access on the link below. The Big Healthy Minds Census 2026 Thank you for your time and support! You can see what we learned from the 2023 census here
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'Hope Stones' is an initiative developed by our Suicide Prevention Network. 'Hope Stones' are small rocks painted by people in the community that 'set in stone' messages of hope, connection and purpose. These comforting little rocks can be used to ground you when you are feeling distressed, remind you of what hope means to you, or they can be given to others in an act of peer-support. Hide them in local public places to be found by someone else - who knows who might be in need of a Hope Stone to brighten their day or distract them from difficult times. Making Hope Stones is pretty simple - you just need a few smooth pebbles / rocks, and some acrylic paint or paint pens (we recommend these as they are easy to use). You can then seal them with any common varnish (recommended if you are leaving them outdoors). See the activity sheet here to follow the instructions for making your hope stone. Don't forget to add the hashtag: #HopeStonesCdale somewhere on your stone, and feel free to tag it on Facebook or Instagram!  The Healthy Minds Board of trustees met on Tuesday morning, 22nd July 2025, with three trustees present, and one Operational Manager, Business Manager and Finance and Systems Officer (notes), also in attendance.
We held our third Light Up For Hope event on 10th September 2025 - World Suicide Prevention Day. The event provided an opportunity for people affected by suicide to come together in solidarity with one another, to remember people we have lost, as well as share messages of hope for ourselves and one another. We are grateful for the many people who attended, and spent time creating beautiful lanterns for the display. 'One day at a time', 'Be proud of who you are', 'You are enough', 'Be the light at the end of someone's tunnel' - just some of the touching messages held in the lanterns. We heard powerful poetry from members of the Calderdale Suicide Prevention Network, reflecting themes of recovery, overcoming struggles, and what gives life meaning and purpose. We also shared a remembrance video to recognise loved ones who have died by suicide, and give space for feelings of grief: "I never get chance to feel and this has given me a chance to cry" To mark World Suicide Prevention Day, members of the Calderdale Suicide Prevention Network also organised for Wainhouse Tower to be lit the same evening in orange, yellow and white light, representing a candle flame and symbolising beacon of hope - mirroring the imagery of our lanterns and our 'be the light' message to all in Calderdale. Thank you to everyone who made this event possible. We are especially grateful to Dean Clough for hosting us in the Crossley Gallery.                                    Transport is a vital topic for all of us, but particularly those living with mental health issues or disabilities. The Healthy Minds Forum has teamed up with our friends at Accessible Calderdale to deliver a series of sessions across Calderdale to make sure your voice is fed directly into West Yorkshire Combined Authority's transport consultation. Please do join us at one of the upcoming sessions to share your views - they will help make sure that West Yorkshire's transport plans have the voice of the people at heart. Or share it with someone for whom transport is a key issue in their lives - see the flyer here.
The Healthy Minds Board of trustees met on Wednesday evening, 15th May 2025, with nine trustees present, and the Chief Officer, one Operational Manager, Business Manager and Finance Assistant (notes), also in attendance. The board accepted the resignation of Emily Dunk as trustee, due to work and family commitments. Emily has been trustee for three years, with particular contribution on membership, data management and human resources. The board will be writing to Emily to thank her for signification contributions and to wish her well for the future.
 On Wednesday 14th May we held our first ever ForumFest - a public event created by members of the Healthy Minds Forum to share the voice of lived experience with the world and come together to speak up for change in our mental health system and wider society.
The Healthy Minds Forum Needs Your Help!
Take part in our Postcards for Peer-Support activity... We at the Healthy Minds Forum are working to make peer-support in Calderdale more abundant. Right now we are working on a ‘Zine’ resource all about peer-support and we want YOU to be a part of it.
Mental health support in Calderdale is more essential than ever, with growing numbers of people facing challenges like depression, anxiety, and emotional distress. At Healthy Minds, we’re proud to be a lifeline for those in need, offering a range of services that empower individuals to feel understood, connected, and supported on their path to recovery.
Our brand new impact report highlights the work we’ve done over the past year (2023-2024), showcasing how services like Safespace,Like Minds, and Link have helped offer vital support to those in need. This year brought challenges, from short-term funding to evolving contracts, but the dedication of our supporters, staff and volunteers has enabled us to adapt and grow. With your continued help, we’re building a future where mental health support is accessible to everyone in Calderdale who needs it. Explore the full report below: The Healthy Minds Board of trustees met on Wednesday evening, 25th September 2024, with five trustees present, and the Chief Officer, Business Sustainability Manager and Finance Assistant (notes), also in attendance.
During the meeting, our Chief Officer Jonny Richardson-Glenn will present the annual report, a fantastic opportunity to get the overall picture of our charity over the last financial year, and what our strategy is for the coming years ahead.
We welcome all who are part of our community at Healthy Minds to join us. The venue & access: Please access the building via the side entrance on Blackledge - the top entrance to the Square Chapel will not be open.via the side entrance on Blackledge - the top entrance to the Square Chapel will not be open. There is step free access and an accessible toilet. The venue is a short walk from Halifax train station, near local central bus stops and there are car parks nearby on Thomas Street, New Road and Union Street. What a splashing time was had by all!
The fun never stopped on Sunday 9th October when all three Calderdale pools opened their doors to swimmers of all ages and abilities, keen to swim and fundraise for Healthy Minds. Our fabulous swimmers chose their pool, chose their distance and pledged their fundraising target. On the day, we couldn’t have been prouder, everyone dived right in and heroically faced their challenge.
The Healthy Minds Board of trustees met on Tuesday morning, 23rd July 2024, with seven trustees present, and Chief Officer, one Operations Manager and Business Sustainability Manager and Finance Assistant (notes), also in attendance. We were delighted to welcome Agnieszka Stobart, and Healthy Minds volunteer, Claire Gibson, who have both just been appointed as new trustees. This brings our board up to ten trustees.
The board received the Chief Officer’s report, including a detailed update on each service. The board approved the proposed redundancy process for the Community Health and Wellbeing project and pilot. The board did so with a heavy heart since, in its lengthy pilot phase, this project has clearly come to contribute much to Calderdale, with recognition across Calderdale and beyond. The board would have much preferred the service to be established as a long-term project but understands that all has been done in order to make this possible. We are very sorry to see the service come to an end, and are proud of what has been achieved, individually, by the team and by Healthy Minds. We wish all staff involved well for the future, whether in new roles within Healthy Minds or elsewhere. The board received an update on the 2024-25 business plan. The business plan is a key document for us as an organisation, in translating our longer term strategy into priorities for this year. The business plan links then through to service operational plans. The board is assured that there will be a repeat of last year’s successful communication of plans through staff briefings later in the summer. It is important that not only does our business plan (and operational plans) deliver our strategy in terms of what we want to do, but also that it addresses the significant risks that we currently face. The board, through its Development Subcommittee, and in discussion with the Chief Officer and other staff, has asked that we review our risks in order to reconfirm the most significant risks, or identify any new or changed risks. The board held a wider discussion about how we identify, understand, describe and respond to our risks, so that there are meaningful links between the environment in which we operate, our strategy, our business and operational plans. We will hold a workshop on this, and consider further at a later board meeting. The board received an update on the development of our membership plans. We hope that our proposed membership model can be launched at our AGM, towards the end of 2024. The board also reconfirmed Jen Fagan as board safeguarding lead, received an update on policies, and received reports on work undertaken by recent Finance (service funding, latest accounts) and Development Subcommittees (business plan, risk). The board very much appreciates the wide-ranging and effective services delivered by staff and volunteers across Healthy Minds, in keeping with our values and commitment to co-production. Paul Hunt Chair of Trustees, 25th September 2024 Thank you to all who joined us on World Suicide Prevention Day at Dean Clough to create a moving artwork: 257 handmade lanterns, each representing someone who died by suicide in the latest year of registered deaths (2023). We lit each of these lanterns in the knowledge that even a single death is already one too many.
The Healthy Minds Board of trustees met on Wednesday evening, 21st February 2024, with eight trustees present, and Chief Officer, two Operations Managers and Business Sustainability Manager (notes), also in attendance. The board considered several options for the 2024-25 pay award. Each option proposed was considered to be in line with the pay principles approved at the board’s meeting of 21st February 2024: affordability; staff recruitment, retention and reward; acknowledgement of inflation/cost of living increases; same pay for working at similar level; broader valuing of staff and supporting wellbeing; benchmarking. The option agreed proposed retains the same number of pay rates at present; increases the amount paid to all staff; rounds up hourly rates and annual FTE salaries. The pay award at individual pay band level has been communicated to all staff over the next few days. The board considered the proposed new Wellbeing Policy. Whilst the board does not routinely review operational policies, this Policy was regarded as of particular importance, following the staff survey of 12 months ago, and the detailed consultation undertaken. The board thanks staff for their active engagement in the survey and following consultation, and the Chief Officer and others who have clearly sought to listen to any concerns expressed. The board understands that teams have responded positively to new proposed Policy. The board believes that the proposed Policy clearly addresses issues and concerns raised through the survey and following consultation, and to be a comprehensive, detailed and engaged response that values staff and supports wellbeing. The board appreciates that the Policy will be communicated to existing and new staff, through induction and regular discussion at team meetings, creating opportunities to reflect on and strengthen our culture, in line with our recently agreed vision, mission and values. The Policy was approved by the board, with thanks to all staff. The survey will be repeated in 2025, having given time for the new Policy to be implemented. The board received the annual Safeguarding Report. The services provided by Healthy Minds inevitably give rise to safeguarding issues from time to time. Safeguarding is a standing item of each board meeting, in which the board receives assurance each meeting that all known issues are being managed, and is made aware of any particular issues that need board consideration for any reason. Specific issues requiring board consideration have been raised on occasion, as brought by the Operational Manager with Safeguarding responsibility, or any other member of the senior team. The board thanks staff for a consistent, skilled, well-informed and committed approach to safeguarding within and across the services we provide. The board is assured that staff are engaging with other organisations where appropriate, and recognises that is not always easy. The board received assurance following an update to a specific case brought to the February board, in which we had concerns regarding statutory engagement. The board also received a detailed report from the Chief Officer, covering recruitment, service developments, funding. The board was particularly pleased to note that the re-commissioning of Link is under the new Provider Selection Regime (PSR) regime and hopes that this will provide opportunities for the re-commissioning of other services in the future. The board approved the budget for 2024-25, previously considered in draft. The budget approved allows for the approved pay award. The Board’s Essential Trustee self-assessment and following actions was reviewed, as were reports from the Development Sub Committee and Finance Sub Committee. The board thanks the Volunteer Coordinator for invitations to the volunteers’ party on 6th June 2024. The board is proud and thankful for the work of all staff and volunteers in the services provided to local people, across Calderdale. Paul Hunt Chair of Trustees, 23rd July 2024
Click to view our gallery from the evening...
As the 2024 General Election approaches on July 4th, it's essential for all eligible voters to ensure they are registered by the deadline. We've compiled comprehensive information to guide you through the registration process, how to vote, accessibility options, voter photo ID requirements, and details on the candidates in the Calderdale constituencies.
Whether you need assistance at the polling station or guidance on voter rights for those living with mental illness, we've got you covered with all the necessary resources and contact information to make your voting experience smooth and informed.
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