The ball that had been planned for August 21st has been rescheduled for 30th Ocober, when it will have a Halloween theme.
This event is being organised by Lifeways, and we are very gratefull for all their support.

Following the fantastic results of our first Mayor's Market Stall in March where we raised over £400, we have arranged another stall on Saturday 4th October from 8:00am onwards. We are already collecting bric-a-brac and we would be very pleased if you have any unwanted items (sorry, no clothing, please). If you think you can help us, can you please contact Helen Fowler at the Centre. Fresh baking and jams will also be available on the day, so we hope to see you at our stall which you will find in the town centre just outside the library.

We've just heard that this ball has been postponed to 30th October, and that it will then have a Halloween theme - more details to follow. We do apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Dig out those back ties and ball-gowns for the Next Step Charity Ball! Live bands and singers will entertain us through the night at Halifax Irish Club. Tickets cost £10 each, and the ticket price includes your supper. All proceeds will go towards the purchase our a second minibus. Please contact the centre for your tickets. We owe a great big 'thank you' to Sally... [read more]

Our friends at The Yew Tree pub in Northowram are helping us once again by hosting a 'Summer Beach Party' with all proceeds coming to the Trust. The fun will kick off at 2:00pm and will continue through the afternoon and into the evening. Hula skirts and Hawaiian shirts will be worn for what is sure to be an unforgetable day. The Yew Tree's very own beach will be very kindly built by a local landscape gardener, and there will be a limbo contest, stalls and a karaoke competition to entertain us through the day. Another big event to be... [read more]

Two of the Next Step's supporters - Simon Hewlett and Robert Highley - are cycling across Scotland from Coast to Coast to raise funds for the Trust. We are very grateful for this fantastic effort, and do hope that the weather is kind to them
Because of a problem with our localgiving website that stops us taking donations directly, donations are being submitted through the Community Foundation for Calderdale and will then be passed on to us. Full details can be found here.

This July the Trust will be hosting its own Summer Garden Party. The event will be held in our own Sensory Garden, so we are hoping for a sunny afternoon! Cream teas will be served, and crafts and home baking will be available on the day. The event will also host the draw for our grand summer raffle. We have a large range of fantastic prizes, including a holiday in France, a meal for two, hanging baskets, wine - the list just goes on. A very big 'thank you' to all who have donated these prizes. So if you would... [read more]

Graham Pearson, the Trust's Chief Executive, has been asked to present the work of the Trust to a meeting of Elland Rotary Club on 3rd August.

Now that the new Next Steppers have started, the current dsabled changing room is in high demand, and so we have decided that a second changing room is needed. Space in the building is limited, and so we have have come up with a 'cunning plan'; we will move all the office and administrative functions out into the current foyer, and will then convert the old office.
Yorkshire Water have very kindly donated desks and filing and so we will be setting up a proper reception area where Helen and Jo will sit.
But this change is not just a... [read more]

As our numbers increase, the demands on the kitchen have increased dramatically, and Jill Thewlis is doing a fantastic job. But the ovens and fridge that we originally installed are just not up to the demands on them, and so replacement ovens and fridge have just been ordered. These are full commercial equipment and so will be much better able to cope, but unfortunately they are not the same size as the old units, and need an uprated power supply.
So there will be a bit of upheaval in the kitchen as the new units are fitted towards the end... [read more]

Last yaer we were very fortunate to receive a grant of £10,000 from the Baily Thomas Foundation. We have just heard that the Foundation has given us another grant this year, this time for £5000, towards the costs of running the Cafe and kitchen. We are very grateful for this fantastic support.