Our Story

In February 2010 a range of partners formed to develop and secure approximately £4 million from the MYPLACE/Big Lottery/DfE fund to reimagine a space in Halifax Town Centre from a warehouse holding a museum archive into what is today a state of the art centre for young people in Calderdale. The warehouse located at the Westgate entrance to the Grade 1 listed Piece Hall commenced work soon after into a multifunctional space which would consist of a recording studio, rehearsal rooms, skate park, bouldering tunnel and more.

This partnership consisted of The Square Chapel, Calderdale Council, voluntary & community organisations and most importantly the Young People of Calderdale. The partnerships worked together to design and deliver this fantastic project which opened its doors initially on the 13th of September 2013

Over the next 6 years the Orange Box delivered a whole range of excellent services and projects for young people encompassing the Arts, Sport, Culture, and Food and became the hub for Calderdale’s targeted youth work offer.

In more recent times the Orange Box has transferred its operation to Calderdale Council where it is now managed by Calderdale Young Peoples Service and Youth Justice Services whose mission it is to ensure that the Orange Box goes from strength to strength and delivers on a mission to provide the best and most comprehensive youth offer possible.

Orange Box retains the partnership upon which it started and is proud to have as its anchor tenants Project Challenge (http://www.projectchallenge.org.uk/) as well as regular users from a range of services who also sit on its advisory group.

Follow the links on this page to find out more about this fantastic youth centre in the heart of Calderdale.