VAC and We’re All Active Calderdale are delighted to reveal the winners and runners‑up of the 2026 Small Changes, Big Impact Competition.
We’ve loved seeing the creative, everyday ways people are building movement into their lives. The standard of entries was incredibly high, and the judges had some tough decisions to make. In the end, it came down to the smallest details — how clearly those small changes were shown, and the difference they made.
A huge thank you to everyone who took the time to enter.
WINNERS
Since we began in 2016, Memory Lane has always incorporated movement and physical activities into our cafe sessions. Over the years, this has included activities such as indoor bowling, kurling and exercise sessions.
In 2024, one of our volunteers (Carolyn) completed training to become a gentle exercise instructor. Supported by music, these seated (and standing) exercise sessions quickly became a regular part of our Saturday cafes. More recently, Carolyn (who is also a Line Dancer) has developed seated Line Dancing as part of those exercise sessions.
This initiative was in response to a significant number of people who love the music and sociability of Line Dancing but are unable to stand and balance for any length of time. We now see a mixture of “normal” exercise and seated Line Dancing at our Saturday cafes.
There are usually around 20 people directly involved in each of these sessions (we set up rows of chairs in front of the instructor), but we also see other people around the room joining in informally whilst seated at other tables.
Reviewing the impact of these sessions on our members, we found that all participants enjoyed them, felt the physical benefits, and many noticed their spirits lifted. It is clear that the use of music really enthuses people to participate in movement.
As a result, a number of our members now attend other exercise/dance sessions away from Memory Lane. Further, some individuals have now incorporated the exercise and dance movements into their daily routines at home.
At Grassroots, we are proud of how we weave movement into our sessions in ways that feel natural, achievable and part of everyday life. Many in our community face barriers to being active: long term health conditions, low confidence, caring responsibilities, tight budgets, or simply feeling that exercise is something other people do, so we focus on small, gentle changes that fit into the things people already enjoy, alongside a few dedicated active sessions shaped by community request.
In our knit and natter group, for example, we place materials away from the main table so people naturally get up, stretch and wander; last summer we even tried walking knitting at an event!
Our community lunch begins with a gentle exercise session that people can do seated or standing, giving everyone an active, confident start.
Movement also shapes the way we work together – we often hold walking meetings with our volunteers, and Brodie, our four‑legged team member, is always ready for a ball game, adding a playful burst of activity to the day.
We also keep equipment easy to access so that if someone fancies a game of swing ball or table tennis, we can get it out in minutes.
Our Monday Meander uses local school halls and playgrounds to make the session fully accessible; our activities are open to all people, all ages, and all abilities and every active element is adaptable, so everyone can join in comfortably in a way that works for their body.
Our menopause group and community walks often end up at the pub for refreshments, because being active should feel social and enjoyable, not separate from everyday life, and, for similar reasons, we often get some music on and have a dance after a busy lunch session; our volunteers now request this to unwind before the school run.
These small changes have shifted how people feel about being active; people who once avoided anything labelled exercise now move more without pressure or judgement.
Confidence has grown, attendance has strengthened, and movement has become something people choose.
Our video simply shows these moments as they happen: the chatting while walking, the gentle stretches before lunch, the games that appear because someone fancies a go.
This is what we are building in across all of our activities, making being active feel ordinary, social and easy to join in; this makes movement habitual, and when that starts to happen, those small changes really do lead to a big impact.
RUNNERS UP
We try to incorporate movement in all our sessions, encouraging people not to remain stagnant, even if it’s just getting up to make a brew!
When we have entertainment in, we encourage audience participation from waving and clapping, to doing the conga! When Lee Lambert is in town, there’s no stopping them.
Our participants include people with limited mobility, living with dementia, mental health issues, carers and cared for.
Every session is about promoting physical and mental wellbeing, staying active, staying safe and forging companionships in a safe space.
This photograph captures a moment from our weekly Chat & Chaii group, a safe and welcoming space where local women come together to connect, learn and improve their wellbeing. What began as a simple social group has grown into a powerful platform for supporting women from diverse backgrounds to build healthier, more active lifestyles—one small, achievable step at a time.
Our entry represents how everyday movement can be woven naturally into community activities without needing specialist equipment, formal classes or intimidating exercise routines. In this session, the women explored a local garden, bending, reaching, walking and creating nature‑inspired artwork using flowers they found outdoors.
These gentle movements encourage mobility, flexibility and confidence, especially for women who face significant barriers to taking part in traditional physical activity. For many, structured exercise feels inaccessible; but walking through nature, gathering materials, and crafting together feels joyful, purposeful and culturally comfortable.
This photo symbolises our project’s commitment to the theme “Small Changes, Big Impact.” A short walk in the sunshine, a few mindful stretches to reach a flower, a creative task that sparks conversation. These small moments build trust, strengthen community bonds, and gently embed movement into everyday life. Over time, these activities contribute to improved physical and mental wellbeing, reduced isolation, and greater engagement with health services.
Our approach is grounded in inclusion and co‑design. Chat & Chaii was shaped directly through conversations with women in Calderdale’s ethnically diverse communities, many of whom told us that they needed culturally sensitive, low‑pressure ways to get active. By listening to them, adapting activities to their needs, and removing barriers such as cost, childcare limitations or unfamiliar environments, we have created a space where every woman feels she belongs.
The impact is clear: women who previously felt disconnected from health activities are now regularly engaging in movement, forming friendships, and feeling more empowered to take care of their health. This single photograph reflects that transformation, a small moment that represents much bigger change.
Our submission celebrates the creativity, resilience and collective power of these women, and the meaningful difference that gentle, everyday movement can make when communities lead the way.
We’ve submitted this entry because what looks like a simple sensory circuit session actually represents something much bigger for the children and families who come to Goldfish SEND Support.
The children who attend our sessions have special educational needs and disabilities, such as profound autism, ADHD, sensory processing differences, physical disabilities and other complex needs. Traditional sports clubs and activities can often be overwhelming, inaccessible, or simply not designed with these children in mind. Because of that, many families find their children missing out on opportunities to move, play and take part alongside others.
Too often, children with complex needs are expected to fit into spaces that were never designed for them, instead of those spaces being designed to include them.
Our sensory circuits help change that.
The circuits include activities such as balancing, crawling, jumping, pushing and stretching. They might look simple, but they are carefully chosen to help children regulate their sensory systems, develop coordination and strength, and build confidence in their own bodies. For some children with physical disabilities or profound autism, this may be one of the few spaces where movement activities are adapted so they can fully participate.
What makes these sessions special isn’t just the activities themselves, but the environment they take place in. It’s relaxed, understanding and welcoming. Children can move at their own pace, repeat activities, or take a break if they need to, and the best bit is, they can be themselves. There is no pressure and no judgement.
For many parents, spaces like this are incredibly rare. We often hear from families whose children have been excluded from activities or who have stopped trying to attend things because it became too stressful. Seeing their child join in, laugh, and feel proud of themselves can be incredibly emotional.
The video we’ve submitted captures a real moment from one of our sessions, children moving through the circuit, encouraging one another and celebrating achievements that might seem small to others but mean everything to them and their families.
For us, this represents inclusion in its most meaningful form, creating a space where children with profound needs and disabilities can move, play and belong.
For the past nine years, our BAME specific groups, the Chalte Chalte walking group and the Sukoon wellbeing group, have been empowering carers to take small but powerful steps towards healthier, more active and more connected lives. When we first began, we started with zero carers attending. Today, we proudly support over 20 carers every week and the groups continue to grow and thrive.
In the early days, it was extremely challenging to encourage members of the Asian community to get involved. There were many barriers that made activities feel inaccessible or exclusive. Cultural expectations, lack of confidence, language barriers and the absence of safe welcoming spaces meant that many carers remained isolated at home. We recognised that to truly engage carers we needed to create inclusive and culturally sensitive environments where they felt comfortable and understood. Our ladies only meet ups became a key part of this success, providing a safe space where women could socialise, relax and participate without hesitation.
The Sukoon group has become much more than a weekly gathering. It is a supportive community space where carers can voice their opinions, share experiences and feel heard. Alongside meaningful conversations we run creative and uplifting activities such as glass painting, diamond art, wind chime making and creating positive message stones. These stones are placed around local parks for members of the public to find, spreading kindness and positivity in unexpected ways. Sometimes people take a stone and replace it with another message, creating a beautiful cycle of encouragement within the community.
Our Chalte Chalte walking group focuses on gentle movement and connection. For many carers who previously lived very isolated lives, simply stepping outside and walking together was the first step toward a more active lifestyle. Over time these small steps have built confidence, improved wellbeing and helped carers realise the importance of caring for themselves as well as others.
Movement and wellbeing are now embedded into our everyday support. Whether through walking, crafting or simply sharing stories over tea, every activity is designed to help carers feel less isolated, more confident and more independent.
Seeing the transformation over the past nine years has been truly inspiring. What began as a small idea has grown into a vibrant supportive network where carers feel valued, empowered and connected. Together we continue to take those small steps, building healthier lives, stronger communities and brighter more positive days for everyone involved.
This photo was taken at Curious Motion’s recent board away day in Hebden Bridge. It captures something we don’t always get the chance to put into words: what it actually feels like to work here.
We walked along the river, danced together, shared food, and let the landscape hold us as we talked — openly and honestly — about who we are and where we’re going. Movement wasn’t just the backdrop to the day; it shaped how we listened, how we thought, and how we related to one another.
For many boards, it can be easy for directors to feel a step removed from the day-to-day life of the organisation — present in meeting rooms and on screens, but less so in the lived, felt work itself. We wanted something different. We wanted our directors to know this work in their bodies as well as their minds, and to experience the joy and aliveness that comes from moving together and being in nature. Small shifts in how we come together can change everything about how we show up. Our board brings a rich diversity of lived experience, and the day was carefully shaped around the needs and realities of each person — ensuring everyone could participate fully and at their own pace. This is how we always work, and so the day gave our directors a chance to experience that care and thoughtfulness first-hand, in their own bodies.
Days like this are rare, and we don’t take them lightly. When our directors get to experience what Curious Motion is really about — the curiosity, the connection, the value of moving in community — they carry that into every decision they make on behalf of the people and communities we serve.
Movement is at the heart of everything we do. Days like this help us stay connected to that — to each other, and to the wider community we’re part of.
Photo by local photographer Mani Golnazi.
For M, the four walls of his living room had become his entire world. At just 55, the transition from “active” to “couch-bound” wasn’t a choice; it was a heart attack from nowhere. In May 2025, he retreated, fuelled by isolation. The “couch” isn’t just furniture—it became a safety net, the doctors said don’t do this, don’t do that, the nurse said you shouldn’t do this, you shouldn’t do that. Eventually, this became a cage. We started Nature and Natter to break down those bars
Nature and Natter give people a reason to put on shoes! Our “Bench-to-Bench” philosophy meets people where they are. By breaking a stroll into five-minute micro-targets punctuated by rest and conversation, we transform a daunting “exercise session” into a series of achievable victories. For someone who hasn’t walked further than the letterbox in months, reaching the nature reserves and the wild bird hide is a monumental win. We use the Merlin bird app to recognise the bird song; this became a favourite. The pace is a lovely, enjoyable stroll.
The magic happens between the steps. Since we began, all of our stroller’s report feeling more connected to their community and to nature. The physical momentum is real. 8 of our members now take daily morning walks, reporting they feel happier and healthier.
Nature doesn’t judge, and neither do we. We recognised that traditional walking groups move too fast or use inaccessible trails. To ensure no one is left behind, every route is accessible for all, including mobility frames and wheelchairs. This is a free walk that ensures that a lack of funds never prevents people from joining.
To keep movement joyful, we introduced “Sensory Bingo.” Instead of tracking heart rates, we hunt for the scent of pine or the sound of a specific bird. This shifts the focus from the effort of walking to the joy of discovery. We also carry a “Moving Guestbook”—a Polaroid camera to capture the smiles of our group. The feedback we receive fills us with joy, friendships are made, both men and women, just proves that movement is a celebration, not a chore, filling us all with gratitude
Our bid is for the next M. With your support, we can ensure the only thing “stuck” in our community is the mud on our boots after a wonderful afternoon spent together.
We love any opportunity to share the joy of movement, so what better way than to jump on the back of a National Campaign – Let’s Dance – and put on a free event where the community can dance together for one hour.
Attracting all age groups, 60 people came together during the hour, there was so much energy from people dancing, taking part, watching and passers by.
We felt it gave everyone permission to dance, a reminder of how accessible dance is, in any place, at any time, and dance is one of the simplest forms of physical activity.
The event was wholly volunteer-led and came with external costs for the use of the land.
The photo is of the members playing a game called ‘Messy Room’.
Two teams split a room, and items are placed on the floor. The aim of the game is to clean your ‘room’ and get as many items onto the opposing side. The team with the least amount of items wins.
The game promotes physical activity and cleaning your room. The members said they felt tired out and aching after the game, but thought it was chaotic fun that they’d do it again.
It is incredibly important to our staff to create connections with our service users and ensure they make the most out of their time with us, with personal experiences.
Music is often a key element of this and frequently fills our centres with joy, with many of our clients enjoying getting up for a dance.
Simple moments—like encouraging someone to get up for a gentle dance with a member of staff when a favourite song is playing—can improve people’s moods, spark joy, and reduce feelings of isolation.
These shared activities help build meaningful personal connections, turning everyday interactions into opportunities for trust and companionship.
Through physical movement and music, our Wellbeing Centre attendees are supported not only in maintaining mobility but also in enhancing their emotional and social wellbeing.
Over the last few years, we have set up regular activity classes in our Wellbeing Centres to promote physical movement among our service users, which in turn would have a positive impact on their mental and emotional wellbeing.
One of those activities has been Step Up and Wobble, in which our service users are encouraged and supported by professionals to perform gentle exercises focused on improving balance, strength and endurance, therefore reducing the risk of falls.
These activity sessions have proven very popular among the people who attend our Wellbeing Centre, with many commenting on how it has positively affected their mobility.
One of the gentlemen who takes part in these sessions started out using a walking stick, but after attending the sessions over many weeks is now able to walk without using the stick as the exercises improved the strength of his muscles.
This has, in turn, boosted his confidence, and he is able to take part in a variety of other activities. Our staff are thrilled by the change they have witnessed in him, thanks to the Step Up and Wobble sessions and comment on how wonderful it is to see the impact of what we do first-hand on our service users.
Small Changes Big Impact Competition Terms & Conditions
1. Promoter
The promoter of this competition are Voluntary & Community (VAC) , referred to as “the Promoter”.
2. Eligibility
- The competition is open to VCSE (Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise) organisations based in Calderdale.
- Individuals may submit entries on behalf of their organisation.
- The Promoter reserves the right to request evidence of VCSE status at any stage.
- Employees of the Promoter, members of the judging panel and their family members are not eligible to enter.
3. Competition Period
- The competition opens on Thursday 15th January 2026 and closes at 23:59 on Thursday 26th March 2026.
- Entries submitted outside this period will not be considered.
4. How to Enter
- Entry is free of charge.
- Organisations may submit multiple entries.
- Each entry must consist of:
- A photograph or a short video, and
- A written description explaining the activity, context, and impact.
- All required GDPR and consent confirmations must be completed as part of the submission process.
5. Content Requirements
Entries must:
- Demonstrate how movement or physical activity is embedded into everyday services or activities.
- Align with the competition theme “Small Changes, Big Impact”.
- Be original and created by, or with permission from, the submitting organisation.
- Not contain content that is offensive, misleading, or unlawful.
6. Judging Process
This is a skill-based competition. Winners will be selected by an independent judging panel based on merit.
Each entry will be scored out of 100 points, using the following criteria:
- Small Changes, Big Impact – Small, achievable implementations that support everyday movement (Up to 20 points)
- Impact & Outcomes – Positive effects on the community and service users, proportionate to the size and reach of the organisation (Up to 20 points)
- Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) – Inclusion of people facing barriers to being active, and adaptations made to support participation (Up to 20 points)
- Creativity & Engagement – Innovative or engaging ways movement is introduced, including visual quality of the submission (Up to 20 points)
- Quality of Submission & Storytelling – Clear narrative describing what happened and the impact achieved (Up to 20 points)
The judges’ decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into regarding scoring or outcomes.
7. Prizes
- 2 winners will each receive £1,000.
- 10 runners-up will each receive £100.
- Prizes will be paid to the organisation, not to individuals.
- No cash alternative or substitution is available.
8. Winner Notification
- Winners will be notified using the contact details provided during submission.
- If a winner cannot be contacted within 14 days, the Promoter reserves the right to award the prize to the next highest-scoring entry.
9. Use of Entries
By entering, organisations grant the Promoter and We’re All Active Calderdale a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to:
- Share submitted photos, videos, and descriptions
- Use them for promotional, reporting, and evaluation purposes related to the competition and physical activity initiatives
This may include use on websites, social media, reports, and presentations. Credit will be given where reasonably possible.
10. Data Protection & GDPR
- Entrants confirm that they have obtained informed consent from all identifiable individuals featured in submissions.
- Personal data will be processed in accordance with UK GDPR and used solely for administering the competition and related communications.
11. Liability
- The Promoter accepts no responsibility for entries that are lost, delayed, corrupted, or incomplete due to technical issues.
- The Promoter reserves the right to amend, suspend, or cancel the competition if circumstances arise outside its control.
12. General
- By clicking the box below and submitting an entry, entrants agree to these Terms & Conditions.