29 Jul 2026 Community

Accessible yoga partnership with The Kirkwood continues to help people move, connect and thrive

A partnership that began with a simple conversation has grown into a thriving community initiative, helping people across Kirklees improve their physical and mental wellbeing through accessible yoga.

Umbrella Yoga has been working alongside The Kirkwood since 2023, after the two organisations met through the Ethnic Diversity Network in Kirklees. Recognising their shared commitment to supporting people living with dementia, older adults and those with long term health conditions, they saw an opportunity to bring inclusive yoga sessions to people who could benefit most.

Initially funded through a Sport England grant, the sessions were launched with The Kirkwood's Rosewood Centre in Dewsbury and at the hospice in Dalton. Thanks to continued funding and The Kirkwood providing its welcoming spaces free of charge, the sessions are still running today, with classes taking place every Monday in Dewsbury and every Saturday in Dalton.

Alongside the community sessions, Umbrella Yoga has also worked with The Kirkwood to develop a unique staff wellbeing workshop, Breathe, Move, Connect: Introducing the Principles of Yoga. Created in partnership with The Kirkwood's Clinical Educator, Emma Stripe, the workshop equips staff working in caring roles with simple yoga inspired techniques to support their own wellbeing while exploring practical ways to use movement, breathing and connection when caring for others.

Since launching in November 2025, the workshop has received excellent feedback and is now available for bespoke team bookings. For Ellie, founder of Umbrella Yoga, the partnership is also deeply personal. Like many people across Kirklees, Ellie's family has experienced The Kirkwood's care first hand.

Ellie said: "My husband's grandma, who was an absolute legend, received end of life care at the Dalton hospice. Visiting her during that time allowed me to witness the incredibly thoughtful and compassionate care provided by every member of staff. It left a lasting impression on me and reinforced just how special The Kirkwood is."

The accessible yoga sessions are open to anyone aged 18 and over and are designed to remove barriers to physical activity, creating an environment where everyone feels welcome. Participants range in age from their twenties to their nineties and include people living with disabilities, carers, those who have experienced trauma and individuals from a wide range of cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

Ellie said: "Our sessions provide a safe space where people feel better physically and mentally, while becoming more connected socially. Everyone practises together in a completely non judgemental environment, where there's no pressure to perform or compare. That sense of belonging and shared experience is just as valuable as the physical movement itself. People leave feeling stronger, calmer, more confident and more connected, and that's what makes such a lasting difference."

Reflecting on The Kirkwood's role within the community, Ellie added: "The Kirkwood is an incredibly important part of the Kirklees community. It's an organisation that people instinctively trust, whether they're accessing end of life care, bereavement support, wellbeing services or opportunities to connect with others."

The partnership has recently received another boost after Umbrella Yoga secured further funding from Sport England for a new project called Move, Breathe and Stride. The 20-week initiative encourages participants to continue building healthy habits away from the yoga mat through peer led walking, wheeling and gentle activity, with a focus on connection, conversation and improving wellbeing. Using the free Step Up app, participants will track their progress through friendly competition before coming together for a special fundraising challenge.

Ellie said: "At the end of the 20 weeks, we'll be taking part in a Big Walk Fundraiser, with the aim of walking 250 miles between us. I can't wait. It'll be fantastic to see everyone getting out, moving a little more and supporting one another along the way."

Looking ahead, Ellie believes the partnership demonstrates the power of organisations working together for the benefit of local people. She said: "For me, this partnership is a brilliant example of what can happen when organisations work together with a shared purpose. I'm incredibly grateful to The Kirkwood for its continued support and collaboration. Being able to offer accessible yoga sessions in such welcoming spaces, free of charge to those who need them, means we're able to reach people who might otherwise miss out. Together we're creating opportunities for people to move, connect and feel part of something, and that's something really worth celebrating."