Minister visits to see impact of breakfast clubs in Halifax
Plus, mysterious lights to appear for spectacular end to CultureDale celebrations
Hello and welcome to the midweek edition of The Calderdale Lead.
I hope you all had a good Easter weekend and didn’t miss us too much - a huge apology but a few tech issues meant we were unable to get our usual Sunday issue to you.
We’re back in business now though and we’ve got details of a ministerial visit to Halifax and some praise from the Government for a school who is one of the ‘early adopters’ of free breakfast clubs.
And we’ve got details of spectacular ending to the borough’s CultureDale celebrations this weekend that you definitely don’t want to miss!
So, on with the news…
Halifax school ‘leading the way’ with free breakfast club, says minister
A Government minister has heaped praise on a Halifax school after it was chosen to be an ‘early adopter’ of Labour’s new breakfast clubs.
Local transport minister Simon Lightwood paid a visit to St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School with Halifax MP Kate Dearden to see the impact of the club, which is part of Labour’s manifesto pledge.
St Joseph's is among the first 750 'early adopter' schools to offer this scheme, potentially saving Halifax parents up to £450 a year.
This early adopter phase will inform the Labour government's national rollout of free breakfast clubs, ensuring all parents have access to the scheme.
Labour say the breakfast clubs are part of a broader initiative to reduce living costs for families, including capping the cost of branded uniform items and providing government-funded childcare.
Mr Lightwood said: "I've really enjoyed my visit to St Joseph's, hearing directly from parents about how vital this breakfast club will be for their families.
"Early adopters like St Joseph's are crucial in shaping the national rollout of these free clubs - so Halifax are truly leading the way!
"These breakfast clubs will break down the barriers to opportunity by ensuring primary school children, regardless of their home circumstances, start the school day well-prepared, giving them a greater chance of success later in life."
Research shows the breakfast clubs positively impact children’s behaviour, attendance, and academic performance.
The scheme also addresses child poverty, with around 67,000 of the 180,000 children benefiting from early adopter schools attending schools in deprived areas. This ensures every child starts the day with a nutritious meal, ready to learn.
Ms Dearden added: "A healthy start to the day supports learning and wellbeing, while saving families up to £8,000 a year. It’s a lifeline for working parents and a key step in breaking down barriers to opportunity.
"Huge thanks to Headteacher Mrs Togher, Deputy Head Miss Frazer and the brilliant team at St Joseph’s for making it happen - and for being such a brilliant example of what strong, caring school communities can achieve."
CultureDale celebrations end with spectacular beacons finale
Calderdale is to mark the end of its year of culture with a series of striking light installations across the borough this weekend.
CultureDale started in April last year to celebrate Calderdale’s 50th birthday, over 350 events and 110 projects have been supported.
April 2025, the final month of CultureDale, has been the biggest yet, with a massive 50 events – one for every year of Calderdale’s existence.
During the last weekend, the ‘CultureDale BEACONS’ – beacons of pure light – will slice through the darkness in Brighouse, Halifax and Todmorden.
The unique light installations will celebrate the spirit of Calderdale, with local twists, on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 April, from 8pm to 10pm.
The Brighouse Beams: A searchlight spectacular
ROKT Activity Centre in the Old Flour Mill, Brighouse, will be the backdrop for bright beams of light that will be visible for miles around, dancing and playing throughout the sky.
The powerful searchlights will interact with each other, act independently or combine into one powerful tube of brilliant energy. This will be a sight to behold, and a celebration of Brighouse, Calderdale and its enduring spirit.
The Halo of Halifax: A celestial dance of light
As darkness settles over Halifax, the sky across Beacon Hill will awaken with a halo of light suspended above the town, its powerful and shifting beams weaving patterns across the clouds.
This is more than an illumination, it is a celebration of Halifax – its landscape, heritage and spirit.
The iconic Wainhouse Tower will also be in on the act, lit up in colour with a fantastic beam of light.
The Brighouse and Halifax light installations can be viewed from multiple areas at a distance, so there is no need to be up close to the specific locations.
Mysterious UFO-like art installation to appear in Todmorden town centre
On Friday 25 April, a UFO-like structure will mysteriously appear in the heart of Todmorden town centre.
During the day, the structure will be a surreal presence in the Canal Basin, off Burnley Road by The Golden Lion, and by nightfall over the weekend, it will transform into a dazzling, lit mirror ball that pulses in rhythm with the Golden Lion.
According to the council blurb, this unexpected and captivating art piece, made by local artist Aimee Grundell, invites people to witness a fusion of mystery, light and sound, creating an experience like no other.
Cllr Danielle Durrans, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Services and Communities, said: “We knew we wanted something huge and memorable to give Calderdale the 50th birthday party it deserves, and the Year of Culture has certainly done that.
“There’s nothing Calderdale likes more than to spark a bit of intrigue, wonder and uniqueness, so keep your eye to the sky in Brighouse, Halifax and Todmorden as we use powerful light shows to celebrate the borough’s heritage, landscape and spirit, with special local twists.”
The council are also encouraging people to share pictures on social media via @CultureDale on X, Facebook and Instagram.
That’s it for this edition of The Calderdale Lead.
We’ll be back with another edition on Sunday and we’re now really in the midst of planning our content for the next few months with lots of interviews, investigations and more to come!
As ever, if there’s something you think we should be following up on, feel free to drop me a line on calderdale@thelead.uk.
Enjoy the rest of the week and we’ll be back in your inboxes on Sunday!
Andrew