Time Well Spent Festival 2026: Get Involved

Wakefield Council are inviting organisations, community groups and local providers to take part in the Time Well Spent Festival 2026, taking place across the Wakefield District from 1st – 31st October. 

Following the success of last year's festival, they're once again bringing together a month-long programme of physical, creative, cultural and community activities for people aged 50+. The festival aims to help older residents stay active, try something new, build confidence and make meaningful social connections.

They would love to hear from organisations offering activities that encourage movement, creativity, learning, wellbeing and social connection. Whether it's walking, gardening, dance, arts and crafts, music, heritage, sport or other community activities, your sessions could help older people discover new opportunities and lead healthier, happier lives.

Why it matters

The older adult population in Wakefield is growing, people are living longer and as we age, we are more likely to be living with health conditions and have more care needs. Physical activity and creative opportunities can play a vital role in supporting both physically and mentally and giving individuals confidence to live more independent, positive lives as we age. 

The festival also coincides with United Nations International Day of Older Persons on 1 October. The 2026 theme is "Resilience of Older Persons in a Changing World", recognising the challenges and opportunities older adults face in today's society.

Wakefield Council:

• Work with partners to showcase the large number of existing activities suitable for older adults across Wakefield District
• Produce and distribute around 3,000 festival booklets featuring activities taking place throughout October
• Promote activities from across the district and link residents to wider opportunities through existing directories such as Connect to Support

How to get involved

If you would like your activity to be featured:

• Complete the Time Well Spent 2026 – Activities Request form and return to Timewellspent@wakefield.gov.uk by Friday 14 August 2026. Please submit a separate form for each activity.
• Monitor the number of participants attending during October.
• Complete a short post-festival evaluation survey and where possible provide a case study, quote, photograph or participant feedback to support festival evaluation.