Partners And Sponsors

Calderdale Council—officially Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council—is the local authority serving the metropolitan borough of Calderdale in West Yorkshire, England. Established in April 1974, its administrative headquarters is Halifax Town Hall. The council is responsible for a broad range of services, including education, social care, housing, planning, waste collection, libraries, roads, and economic development. Governed by 51 councillors across 17 wards, it currently operates under a Labour majority. As a member of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Calderdale Council focuses on delivering modern, inclusive public services while promoting vibrant communities, sustainable transport, and improved wellbeing across the borough.

Community Rail Network is the national membership body supporting community rail in the UK. It represents over 75 community rail partnerships and more than 1,300 station adoption groups. The organization promotes community involvement in local railways to deliver social, economic, and environmental benefits. Through partnerships with train operators, local authorities, and other stakeholders, it helps enhance rail services, stations, and accessibility. Community Rail Network provides guidance, training, and funding opportunities to empower local groups. Its work encourages sustainable travel, supports tourism, improves station environments, and strengthens community connections by bringing people together through shared efforts in the railway sector.

A local charity and UK Community Foundation network member dedicated to tackling inequalities in Calderdale. They provide grants and loans to hundreds of local charities, voluntary groups, and social enterprises, funding projects from homelessness support to dementia initiatives. They also offer tailored advice and collaborate with businesses, donors, and communities to address pressing social issues. Their goal is to connect those who can offer help—whether practical or financial—with those in need, fostering long‑term impact. As a trusted funder since the 1990s, they blend local insight with philanthropic expertise to drive positive community change.

The Architectural Heritage Fund supports communities across the UK in breathing new life into historic buildings. Through advice, grants, and repayable finance, it enables heritage-led regeneration—turning old structures into sustainable assets like community hubs, homes, and creative spaces. With over 45 years’ experience, AHF acts as a social investor, helping heritage projects unlock social, economic, and environmental benefits. Its "Transforming Heritage" initiative focuses on giving disused sites vibrant futures that enrich local economies and cultural life. The fund champions heritage as a driver of innovation and local resilience.

Northern is a major train operating company in Northern England, managing commuter and regional services at more than 500 stations. Owned by the UK government’s Department for Transport, Northern connects key cities, towns, and rural communities—from Manchester and Leeds to Cumbria and the Yorkshire coast. The operator offers online ticket booking (with no fees), real-time journey updates, Delay Repay compensation, and accessibility assistance. It also promotes travel ideas, events, and local destinations. Northern’s mission is to provide reliable and affordable rail travel, encouraging sustainable transport and supporting regional growth.

Network Rail is the UK’s infrastructure authority for the national rail network in Great Britain. As a non-departmental public body under the Department for Transport, it owns, operates, maintains, and upgrades tracks, signalling, stations, and structures. Network Rail aims to deliver safe, reliable, and efficient services for passengers and freight. It invests in major projects—from electrification to smart-tech integration—while managing day-to-day operations such as incident response, station improvements, and winter resilience. The organisation works closely with train operators, government, and local stakeholders to drive long-term rail capacity, safety, and digital innovation.

The Railway Heritage Trust is a charitable organisation founded in 1985 to help preserve listed railway buildings and structures owned by Network Rail and related bodies. It offers grants and advice for conservation and restoration projects—supporting listed stations, signal boxes, viaducts, platforms, and footbridges located in conservation areas. Over its 40-year history, it has awarded more than £70 million in grants across 2,000 projects. The trust acts as a bridge between infrastructure owners, local communities, and conservation professionals to safeguard railway heritage for future generations.

Historic England is the government’s statutory adviser on England’s historic environment—and an executive non-departmental public body under the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. It oversees the National Heritage List for England, preserving archaeology, buildings, monuments, and landscapes. Responsible for listing and protecting heritage assets, it provides grants, expert advice, and research support. Historic England champions public access, education, and the long-term care of historic places. With millions of archival records, it guides policy and planning to ensure heritage is valued, understood, and maintained across communities.

Hebden Royd Town Council is the local authority for the twin towns of Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd (and Cragg Vale), in Calderdale. It is responsible for community services, public spaces, events, grants, town planning input, and local facilities—including ownership of the Hebden Bridge Picture House cinema. The council comprises 18 elected members across six wards, supported by a town clerk and officers. It engages with residents and partners on environment, transport, wellbeing, and heritage projects. Its mission is to enhance the quality of life and strengthen community in the Hebden Royd area.