Welcome to the BCB newsletter for December. Here’s just a few things that have been going on at BCB and some events that are coming up:
Goodbye to Rawson Road, Hello to Bradford Arts Centre.
After a long time of waiting, BCB has finally moved into the Bradford Arts Centre. The move has taken place over the last week or so. The studios at Rawson Road have now closed and we are in the process of building new studios at the Bradford Arts Centre. Its been a hard move as we had to clear all of the last 23 years of life at Rawson Road. The premises group Marie Millward, Tony Painter, Graham Glover, Dom Burch – and other volunteers too, have been brilliant in sorting through the mountains of papers, and general stuff accumulated over the last 2 decades and more. And Rich Halfpenny is doing sterling work building the studios and it won’t be long till we can all have a go with the new equipment. BCB is closing for Xmas from 24 Dec, opening again on Monday 5 January. Happy Xmas to everyone – see you in the New Year.
BCB AGM 2025
It was lovely to see everyone who attended the BCB AGM on Sat 6 Dec. It was a packed house! It was also our first event at the Bradford Arts Centre, the new home for BCB. Sadly it was the last AGM with Dom Burch as BCB. Dom is stepping down after 10 years in the role. We really appreciate all he has done for BCB as Chair, and his exceptional and innovative leadership style. He will still be staying with us a volunteer presenter. Congratulations to Sophie Kupse and Clive Whittaker who were elected to the BCB Management Committee, alongside the re-election of Tony Painter, Alan Keeling, Mercy Katola.
We also welcomed Neil McCallum from Sovereign Health Care as the first Gold Patron of BCB. This is an exciting new way for businesses to support BCB and we appreciate Sovereign for leading the way.
Schools
We recently welcomed a new group of pupils from Rainbow Primary Leadership Academy, who have been working hard to become junior radio reporters! They made their first ever radio program, a special half hour Xmas program, which was broadcast last Sunday. If you missed the show you can listen back here; https://listenagain.bcbradio.co.uk/?pgdate=20251214
In January we look forward to welcoming young people from Bradford Citizens as part of our new ‘Listen up’ project, funded by the Pears Foundation. They’ll be working closely with Jo Kenyon to learn new skills, develop self awareness and confidence, and produce a series radio programs for broadcast here on BCB Radio. We want to ensure they have a place for self-expression, feel valued and supported, have a voice in the media – and feel they are listened to.
Radio 119
Radio 119 have had a busy end to the year. Across the month they’ve interviewed Bradford Foodbank, Inclusion North, Stephen Greenwood about his role with an Epilepsy Support Group and PHAB Club. The team also had a chance to visit Cartwright Hall for the Turner Prize event and Wednesdays group took part in the St.George’s Hall Heritage Tour. Finally the group were getting ready for the big move to Bradford Arts Centre.
Step Up To The Mic!
BCB is offering new opportunities for women, starting in January 2026. Step Up to the Mic is an 8 week programme of workshops, aimed at women who are not currently in paid employment. If you’re looking to build up confidence, learn new skills and get to know new people, it could be for you! Through a series of 8 weekly workshops, women will learn how to make a radio programme, and take part in our Radio Venus broadcast on International Women Day, 8 March. The course will also help women overcome any health challenges, physical or mental health, that may be preventing them from getting back into work. If you’re interested or know anyone else who might be interested, please get in contact with mary.dowson@bcbradio.co.uk. The course will start in mid January, with one session a week.
Bradford 2025 Roundup
What a year 2025 has been for Bradford with it being our time as UK City of Culture. For Bradford 2025 BCB had the RadioBox, our roving radio studio which we took across our district. In 2025 we took the RadioBox to 18 events over 11 locations and had 671 guests come and chat to us on the radio. As if that wasn’t enough we had 386 people hop on to Bradford & Beyond and About Bradford to tell people more about Bradford 2025 events and activities they were involved with. All in Bradford 2025 has been fantastic for our city and we are proud to have played our part in it!
Work Experience
Here at BCB Radio we offer a variety of work experience placements for young people, or those in education, who are currently living in or studying in the Bradford district. Placements are a great way for people to get a taste for working in community development and the media.
If you know a young person from Bradford who may be interested please ask them to contact hello@bcbradio.co.uk for further info!
Featured Programme of the Month
Every month we shine the spotlight on a particular programme on the BCB schedule. This month we’re telling you about Radio Times
Radio Times is brought to you every Tuesday 2.15-3pm by Tony Spirrett, Niall Dew, Beverly Stainburn, Sue Dewhurst, Ranjit Arora. The group came together through BCB’s Radio Times project which provides a weekly drop in session where people who are 55+ can learn radio skills. On the show the team chat about the issues that are important to them and provide useful information for Bradfordians in a similar age bracket to themselves.
A Big Thank You for 2025!
Finally we’d just like to thank everyone for all their hard work in 2025. BCB wouldn’t be BCB if it wasn’t for the dedication, contributions and commitment of all our volunteers and general desire to get stuck in! So once again a massive thank you for everyone’s hard work this year and here’s to 2026!
