This year our annual conference is heading to Bradford, the UK City of Culture 2025! In this blog series, we’re chatting to members of the Heritage Network and our staff team about their connection to Bradford and West Yorkshire. To find out more information, visit our website.
What’s your connection to Bradford and its heritage?
I’ve lived and worked in the North all my life, so I’m not far from West Yorkshire’s impressive industrial and cultural heritage. Working at the Heritage Network, I support grassroots and community heritage work within England, especially in Bradford and surrounding Yorkshire area.
I’ve also been enjoying time in West Yorkshire and Bradford this year, as part of our development work in England. With Charlotte, the Network’s Development and Outreach Officer for England, we are often found on the train to Bradford, meeting with those rescuing historic community sites and raising awareness of Bradford’s fantastic history and heritage.
One part of my role is supporting communities and growing groups of heritage custodians in England. With Charlotte, I’ve led on the West Yorkshire Heritage Toolbox programme: a free series of skills masterclasses and professional mentoring with community champions Locality for local heritage groups to build their capacity, thanks to funding from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
What’s a community heritage initiative in West Yorkshire that you’re particularly passionate about?
I was really impressed by the community charity Halifax Opportunities Trust, where a central group of dedicated and caring people in west Halifax work to improve circumstances of local people across Halifax and Calderdale. The support they give is immense, with a multi-strand approach aiming to increase employment opportunities and apprenticeships, provide training and skills development, as well as business grants and support, running family hubs and health support, classes and wellbeing help, and community events in their Outback garden space. After a long-awaited Park Ward Community Asset Transfer they should soon be able to deliver their fantastic services in Queens Road Neighbourhood Centre, a central community hub with a fascinating past as a school and community centre. Find out more soon with our upcoming case study of Halifax Opportunities Trust.
Is there a historic site or space in Bradford that you think deserves more recognition?
Yes, St Peters House in the historic Little Germany area. The former Victorian Post Office for the City has in recent years become the home of Bradford Arts Centre, a community arts and performance charity. Originally founded as Kala Sangam in Leeds in 1993 as an arts centre accessed by “people of all ages and abilities”, the charity moved to Bradford in 1997. Almost two decades later, the multi-million pound regeneration of St Peters House is almost complete, so the charity are relaunching with their new name- Bradford Arts Centre.
This redevelopment has created impressive facilities, including a 170-seat theatre, five purpose-built rehearsal studios, four meeting rooms, a conference venue, office space for creative businesses, and a home for BCB Radio. Now, the Grade-II listed building will be open to visit from Wednesday 8th October 2025, as Bradford’s newest place to meet up, get creative, and learn more about South Asian and contemporary performance – you can see highlights of their autumn programme now.
What are you most looking forward to about the Heritage Network Conference in September?
Supporting young people to make new connections with heritage organisations, and sustaining this after the conference! Our Digital Heroes project at Conference supports young people to learn from established heritage professionals, community volunteers, funders and sector support organisations – it’s an incredible and valuable experience for early career professionals.
Bringing all our different types of heritage and different people together in Bradford gives us a unique opportunity to hear new voices and learn from each other in this shared experience. If you’re a community heritage project in West Yorkshire (Bradford, Leeds, Calderdale, Kirklees or Wakefield), we are cohosting this year’s Leeds Heritage Show and Tell event on 9th October– why not come along!
We want to showcase Bradford’s fascinating history and heritage too, and we are hoping to establish a longer legacy throughout West Yorkshire, to ensure collaborations and opportunities thrive past City of Culture 2025. Any questions – drop us an email at admin@heritagenetwork.org.uk
