Bradford cyclists gear up for a challenge!

News that a stage of the Tour de Yorkshire cycle race (April 28th-30th 2017) was departing from Bradford on 30th April prompted the Well Bradford team to create their own cycle challenge.

This was bike ride with a difference though – it aimed to prove that anyone could ride a bike, particularly Pakistani women who were not regarded as traditional cyclists.

Thanks to fantastic support from the local Onna Bike cycling club run by the formidable Mumtaz Khan, Cycling UK, sponsors Brewin Dolphin and many other helpers and organisations, 219 riders and 14 cycle leaders took part in the ride from Lister Park to Roberts Park in Bradford.

It was an amazing event, with cyclists of all ages cheered on by the crowds.For many participants it was the first time they’d ever done anything like this –and it won’t be the last!

You can watch a great video from the day and read more about how the event became a reality in an article by Karl Milner from Well Bradford here.

Well Bradford Newsletter

Well Bradford have recently appointed Sonia Fayyaz to their team, you can find out more about Sonia's role, and the latest news in Well Bradford, by reading their latest newsletter here.

Well Bradford Small Grants Programme - now open!

The Well Bradford Small Grants Programme is now open. Grants from £350 to £5000 are available to groups and organisations working in the Toller Ward for projects that address the Well Bradford priorities. If you would like to apply the application form can be downloaded here, and the guidance notes can be accessed here.

If you would be interested in applying to become a member of the Assessment Panel for the grants programme, please send your expression of interest to no later than 4pm on Friday 16^th February. Interested parties must live or work in the Toller Ward and full training will be provided. For more information please click here.

Toller Ward Forum and Girlington Community Event - Saturday 10th February

Drop into Girlington Community Centre on Saturday 10th February between 12.00 - 4.00pm to 'have your say' on plans for the development of local services in Girlington. For more information please click here.

Well Bradford Project Design Workshop - Monday 19th February

Everyone is welcome to attend this free workshop, which offers support in preparing an application for the Well Bradford Grants Programme.

Local people have their say about Girlington

Well Bradford, in partnership with Bradford Council and Max Associates, organised the first joint Toller Ward Forum and Community Consultation day in February.

The event provided an opportunity for local residents, organisations and businesses to be involved and have their say on local service delivery in Girlington.

Well Bradford gave an update on the programme and the work done in Girlington so far, followed by information from Max Associates about the new proposed sports and leisure facility on Squire Lane.

“We believe communication plays a vital role in ensuring community empowerment, so we also had local service providers such as the Police, neighbourhood wardens and council officers on hand to speak to residents about how they can work together to improve the community,” explained Sonia Fayyaz, Well Bradford Programme Manager.

“The event was very well received by all and we quickly realised that people were ready to make positive changes in order to create a happier and healthier community.”

Everyone welcomed the proposal for the new facilities in Girlington and people were also enthusiastic about other developments, which included the Green Mile and West Park.

Added Sonia: “We are hopeful that we will continue to host such events in the future, as it provides a very valuable platform for open community dialogue, engagement and feedback.”

Well Bradford Grants Programme winners announced

Well Bradford has now successfully completed the second round of its Grants Programme.

Seven groups were successful in the first round of the programme and details of their projects and how they are going to spend their grants are as follows:

Cancer Support Yorkshire will be running an eight-week course which will address the psychological and physical impact on life and survivorship, following a cancer diagnosis. The course will begin on 29^th March at the Girlington Community Centre, which is in the heart of the community. For more information about the course, or to book your place, please contact Sarah Wood on .

The Hope Centre will be providing awareness and workshops on how to reduce obesity, what the signs of heart disease are in the over 50s and promoting healthy eating, healthy living through their groups.

Onna Ju-Jitsu Club will be providing cycling lessons for local children who cannot buy bikes due to financial restraints. This will include children from the BAME/transient and indigenous communities.

Fairbank United FC will be creating a new junior football team and will train volunteers to progress further and become FA Coaches. They will also be looking to update their existing volunteer qualifications, and also purchase kits and equipment for their groups.

The BD8 Group of Surgeries will be launching ‘Project Movement’ where they will run six week sessions, which will work with local women, covering health prevention talks, yoga and simple exercise.

The project Consequence will be working with 14-25 year olds, covering a variety of topics including confidence building, sexual health and awareness, mental health, enterprise and work experience, apprenticeships and support in applying for work, and actively engaging and connecting the local youth in the community.

Girlington Elderly Community Association will be running a series of activities to improve health and wellbeing, which could include exercise classes, outdoor excursions and healthy eating workshops.

We are currently working with these groups to promote their activities and events to the wider community. Also, as part of the wider evaluation and monitoring process, we will be discussing ways of how to keep the projects going after the Well Bradford funding has run out.

This programme is being carried out in collaboration with Community Action Bradford and District.

For more information on any of the above projects, please email