Last Saturday's Beach Party at the Yew Tree in Northowram raised £399 towards our new minibus - thank you to all involved.
It was a great day, with limbo dancing, stalls, burgers and football, and culminated with the release of balloons from the back of our current minibus. Fortunately the rain and clouds sped away and we had brilliant sunshine - quite a shock.
We are very grateful to the staff of the Yew Tree for hosting us, and for all the staff who put in their spare time to make the event so enjoyable.

All the building work to install the lift is completed - carpets have been relaid and the decorating done! We are now waiting for training in the use of the new evacuation aids and then the whole building will be in use.
Somehow there seems to be far more space upstairs than there used to be, a tribute to the superb architectural design done by Phil Naylor.

One week in and the lift shaft is taking shape. Walls have been removed, wiring re-routed; pipes re-laid; foundations put in, and the blockwork for the shaft is being laid.

As further sponsorship money has been received, the total has increased to over £1300!!! And there is more to come!
Thank you once again to all who took part.

On Friday of last week, a group of Next Steppers and staff went 'bag-packing' at the new Tesco store on Sowerby Bridge, collecting money towards the costs of our next minibus. It was a very succesful session and they raised nearly £250!! Well done to all.

Just two weeks to go, and then we have the whle building!
The lift has been ordered, the builders appointed, and work is scheduled to start on Tuesday 1st June. It is scheduled to last until the middle of July, so that we have all the new space available and acessible ready for new Next Steppers.

Bank Holiday Monday saw a large number of people tied togther in pairs, in fancy dress, walking or running round the Northowram area, calling in at local pubs for refreshments and to obtain money from the onlookers. Most of the Next Step staff were involved, each dressed in a tu-tu - it needed to be seen to be believed!
It was a very funny day, and everyone seems to have really enjoyed themselves, whist raising money for a very good cause - our new minibus. The collecting tins alone raised nearly £500, and we are now waiting for the sponsorship... [read more]

The Trust has just signed the lease on the upper floor of our building, and so will be taking over the whole building at the beginning of June. This extra space will allow a further range of activities to be offered at our Halifax centre, but there will be a small amount of disruption in June as we re-arrange things and also install a lift! The lift will be positioned in the current physiotherapy room, so that the door to the lift will be where the current door is; the whiteboard will be moved upstairs and a new door will... [read more]

Natalie, one of our Next Steppers, has just celebrated her 21st birthday, and decided that instead of presents she would like donations to be shared between The Trust and Ravenscliffe High School.
A total of £500 was donated; when the Gift Aid is recovered the grand total will be over £635, so each organisation will receive £317.
A great big thank you to Natalie, and congratulations on becoming 21.

The Trust has just received a grant of £5000 for the purchase of a new adapted bike, capable of transporting a wheelchair and user at the front. The bike, called a Raam Velo, hasbeen ordered and should be delivered to us early in March. It will then be stored at the Spring Hall track.
The grant has been awarded by Grants for Health, and was awarded through the Community Foundation for Calderdale. We are extermely grateful to both organisations for their financial support.