More than £1.8 million investment in sports facilities at Calderdale College is creating new opportunities for students and the wider community, with upgraded pitches set to increase participation and physical activity across Calderdale and West Yorkshire.
Supported by funding from the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation, the project has transformed the College’s outdoor sports provision through the refurbishment of its existing 3G pitch and the development of a second state-of-the-art 3G pitch. Among the highest-quality sports pitches in West Yorkshire, the facilities will significantly increase capacity for year-round sport, supporting education, community use and grassroots football.
As part of the project, the College is working with community organisations and sports clubs to maximise the use of the facilities and widen participation among underrepresented groups, including women and girls, people with disabilities, those with long-term health conditions, and people from low-income families and areas of deprivation such as Park ward in Halifax.
The investment marks a major step forward for women’s and girls’ football in Calderdale, with the College partnering with Halifax FC Girls to provide a base for the club’s youth pathway. This builds on the College’s appointment in 2022 as the strategic lead for the development of girls’ football across Calderdale primary and secondary schools.
Andrew Harrison, Vice Principal of Corporate Services at Calderdale College, said: “This investment represents much more than new sports facilities. It creates opportunities for people across Calderdale to be more active, improve their wellbeing and enjoy access to some of the highest-quality 3G sports pitches in West Yorkshire.
“As a college that has served the community for more than 130 years, we’re proud to have invested in facilities that will benefit not only our students, but local schools, sports clubs and community groups for years to come. Working with local partners means we can maximise the impact of these facilities and inspire more people of all ages and backgrounds to get involved in sport.”
The College is continuing to strengthen relationships with organisations including Unique Community Hub, a not-for-profit organisation supporting residents in Park ward, to encourage more young people to take part in sport and physical activity. Alongside this project, partnerships with FC Halifax Town, Halifax Panthers and Yorkshire Dragons are creating new opportunities to support sporting development, broaden participation and maximise use of the facilities.
Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said: “The Football Foundation is working closely with our partners, the Premier League, The FA and Government, to transform the quality of grassroots facilities in England by delivering projects like this across the country.
“Good quality playing facilities have a transformative impact on physical and mental health and play an important role in bringing people together and strengthening local communities. We’re delighted that the local community in Calderdale will now be able to enjoy all these benefits thanks to the new facilities at Calderdale College.”
The project was carried out by CLS Sports, specialists in designing and constructing sports pitches.
For more information about Calderdale College’s sports and fitness facilities, visit: www.calderdale.ac.uk/inspire-centre/
