Who we are
About Bradford For Everyone
Delivery of the Bradford For Everyone Strategy is led by the Stronger Communities team at Bradford Council and is overseen by the Stronger Communities Partnership Board. The Stronger Communities service delivers innovative, and well-evidenced, initiatives which bring people and communities together in meaningful and sustainable ways. We also support and connect partners across the district who are working to create a more cohesive, equal and progressive Bradford District for all. The Bradford for Everyone brand is a positive legacy from the successful Integration Area Pilot programme by the same name which was funded by the Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities (DLUHC).
Our work focusses on four key areas;
- Getting On - Address factors affecting economic participation and language skills.
- Getting Along - Promote greater interaction, dialogue and understanding between people from different backgrounds; ensuring that people understand fully their rights and freedoms as well as their responsibilities.
- Getting Involved - Generating, and connecting people to, opportunities to participate in community and civic life and strengthening inclusive leadership.
- Feeling Safe - Tackling hate crime and the fear of hate crime so that everyone feels safe. Supporting inclusive sustainability to minimise, or protect against, the consequences of Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss and their impacts upon our communities.
We believe with passion that our district is full of amazing people, places and potential. Whether you are born ‘n’ bred or are newly arrived, we believe that we are all valuable, and are more enriched and stronger when we’re connected - when each of us feel we are understood, belong, feel safe and can reach our full potential.
Our Stronger Communities Partnership
Our vision is ‘of a place where everyone feels that they belong, are understood, feel safe and are able to fully participate in the opportunities the District offers.’
The Stronger Communities Partnership oversees all the activities that deliver under the Bradford for Everyone Strategy The Partnership is made up of strategic leaders, Area Committee Chairs, the voluntary, private and faith sectors and local people who live in our district and volunteer as Bradford for Everyone Ambassadors.
For further information about the work of the Stronger Communities Partnership, please contact stronger.communities@bradford.gov.uk or visit the Stronger Communities Partnership website.
We are many hearts, one Community
Our Ambassador group is made up of passionate people who are willing to work together, regardless of who they are or where they come from, to create a caring, accepting and a supportive district where everyone can be the best version of themselves.
We believe that all of our communities have an really important role to play. Our volunteer Ambassadors help us get it right for all communities by sharing their knowledge and ideas, by influencing what we do and what we fund, by promoting our work and by making sure that it is having a positive impact on Bradford District’s communities.
Loraine Hughes
Shipley and SCP Board member
I have worked as an expat in the cosmopolitan city of Dubai. I am a Postgraduate Microbiologist and Food Safety Management Specialist. I love that we can share and learn from our alleged differences, which really are just different ways of doing the same things.
Michael Frazer
Bradford East and SCP Board member
I have worked in the Civil Service for 39 years and took early retirement to act as Carer for my wife, who unfortunately died from leukaemia in 2016. I am convinced that community involvement and membership of group’s helps people cope who may otherwise be isolated or vulnerable which impacts on their mental and physical health.
Mercy Katola
Bradford East
I’m passionate about helping people and giving unheard voices a platform. I work as a panellist of Migration Matters, Raising Every Voice on BCB Radio. As a single mum, I went through a lot of challenges back in my country. I also understand what its like to not have enough food to keep a family going for a day.
Bernadette Gallagher
Keighley and SCP Board member
My parents moved from Ireland and settled in the UK in the 1950s. My values have been formed over the years by my parents, my education and my working career as a social worker. I have retired from my statutory social work role, but want to continue to work with others to make our District a better place to live.
Abdul Hamid Ismail
Bradford West
I have been a resident of Bradford for over 47 years. I have vast experience of voluntary and statutory sector. The roles I have had in the past in the city give me knowledge of various levels of service delivery, volunteering, management and strategy, where I have learnt the real life, grass-roots challenges. It is an honour to contribute and to serve this work.
Ikra Shakoor
Bradford South
I am 23 years old and live in Bradford South. I am a Young Ambassador with Bradford’s Youth Service. I have Bardet Biedl Syndrome (BBS) and one of the impacts of this is that I am visually impaired. I want to help make the community stronger, encourage people to get involved, and help people to get along with each other regardless of their differences.
Peter Wallis
Bradford East
I was born in Bristol and gained a BSc (hons) degree in physics at Southampton University. I came to Bradford, living in Idle from 1977. After 22 years at Wharfedale, I moved on to Filtronics/Teledyne, still doing electronics design. I was married for 37 years and have one son. Unfortunately my wife died in 2014 after a long illness just as I was due to retire. As a Christian I strongly believe everybody has equal rights and it is our duty to help each other.
Jean Gallagher
Shipley
Born in Bradford, I have lived in Bingley for 32 years. I am a mum of four and gran of seven (soon to be eight). I worked as a nurse midwife and lecturer. My vision is to see Bradford as a shining example of people who see each other as fellow humans, with an understanding of a wide range of cultures and interest in understanding each other’s points of view.
Asumani Susho
Bradford West
I am grateful and proud of the wonderful city of the Bradford, the culture of welcoming and support are enormous. I have lived in this great city nearly a decade and found a place called Home. I am passionate about working with most disadvantaged and deprived individuals in our society, engage and encourage them to take action to improve their lives so that none is felt forgotten.
Ayra Najeeb
Bradford West and SCP Board member
My name is Ayra and I am a 17-year-old British Pakistani. I have grown up in Bradford and I may only be 17 but in these years I have learnt that there are many diverse communities within Bradford, and I believe that it is important that we come together and make sure they have someone who can listen to them. I want to help ensure that the future of Bradford, and all of our communities, stays strong. I want to demonstrate to young people that their voices matter too.
Gloria Heilbron Buelvas
Bradford East
I am from Colombia, a mother, a teacher, passionate gardener and painter. I enjoy doing community work and helping other people. I love my role as an Ambassador as I can share my culture, learn about others and help celebrate our similarities.
Vasaq Hussain Akhtar
Keighley
I am 19 years old, studying joinery at Keighley college. I have four brothers, I enjoy music especially rapping, and I can also fix computers inside out. Growing up can sometimes be challenging especially when we all come from different backgrounds and abilities. I do want to make a positive difference in my life. I try my best. As an ambassador I want to be a voice for young people.
Subhan Asif
Youth Ambassador and SCP Board member
My name is Subhan Asif, I am a young, Muslim adult of Pakistani background who lives in Bradford west. I was born in Pakistan and I moved here when I was 3 years old. Currently I am in year 12 studying Biology, Chemistry and Psychology for my A levels, and am an aspiring medic. Growing up, I realised that young adults don’t get much input in the growth and development of our city. Since Bradford has the youngest population in the whole of the UK, I wanted to make sure that as a young adult myself, I make a positive impact for everyone.
Kayle McCoy
Bradford South and SCP Board member
My name is Kayle McCoy and I am Bradford HCPC registered Dramatherapist. I became a Bradford for Everyone Ambassador because I want to play a role in decisions made for the local people. I strongly believe Bradford is made BY the people For the people!
Jade Ibegbuna
Shipley
Bradford is a fascinating city that I am very proud to call home. Having worked in community development for over 10 years, I know the importance of people being connected to where they live, having a voice and feeling valued. My vision is to see individuals empowered, communities thriving and for Bradford to embrace being a city full of people that were born to do things differently.
Our Team
Our team is diverse and intersectional. We are passionate about our place and all of its people. Together we lead on the delivery of the Bradford for Everyone strategy for the district.
