About Fire and Water

Who we are, what we are doing...

Fire & Water is both a physical space in the heart of Sowerby Bridge and a wider local place-making initiative.

We’re on a journey with the people of Calderdale who want to create a multi-purpose venue for community and local economic activity, as well as a space to support arts, music and cultural events.

The Fire & Water project will create a purpose built venue to provide community training and to house arts, music and cultural events as well as providing space for other community activities.

Our mission is constantly evolving

Our mission is constantly evolving through community consultation to reflect the goals, strengths and needs of the people. Fire & Water takes an Asset Based Community Development approach to our activities. Building on the strengths of our people, with collaboration and development at the heart of everything we do.

Fire & Water exists to further or benefit the residents of Sowerby Bridge and surrounding areas, without distinction of sex, sexual orientation, race or of political, religious or other opinions by associating together the said residents and the local authorities, voluntary and other organisations in a common effort to advance education and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation and leisure time occupation with the objective of improving the conditions of life for the residents.

What we need

We will always need money! Now that the lease is in place we will be faced with business rates, insurances and electricity bills at an early stage and our costs will escalate. As mentioned above we now have some funds towards repairs to the buildings but very little for running costs. We will need to address how we pay for the increasing amount of administration and will probably have to pay an administrator before too long. An initial estimate is that we will need about £10,000 in the first year, increasing in subsequent years.