And Breathe Event In Hebden Bridge

On Saturday 17 May, And Breathe took over Hope Chapel in Hebden Bridge for a vibrant and welcoming afternoon focused on LGBTQIA+ wellbeing and creative approaches to addiction support.

Run in partnership by The Brunswick Centre and Happy Valley Pride, the event brought together a wide range of community groups, services, artists and individuals – all passionate about making wellbeing more accessible, inclusive, and fun.

The venue was full of colour, creativity and connection. There was a real buzz throughout the day, with people exploring a variety of stalls offering everything from harm reduction advice and local LGBTQIA+ support groups to mental health resources and stop-smoking services. Fancy dress, drag performances, and hands-on demos brought energy to the space, while massage, games and endless cups of free tea helped keep things relaxed and welcoming.

Three creative workshops ran across in the weeks leading up to the event, giving attendees the chance to explore themes of identity, resilience and recovery through art, writing and shared storytelling. These workshops led to the creation of a brand new And Breathe zine – a beautiful mix of poems, reflections, drawings and ideas generated on the day.

Download the Zine

We were delighted to welcome such a diverse mix of organisations, including local LGBTQ+ groups, recovery services, arts organisations, and health professionals. It was a powerful reminder of how much support is out there – and how bringing people together in safe, inclusive spaces can spark real connection and change.

A huge thank you to everyone who came along, took part, shared their story, or simply joined us for a cuppa. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and we’re already thinking about how we can build on this in future.

Find out more about all our wellbeing projects on Well Proud and our stop smoking initiative Queer as Smoke.