Welcome to the BCB newsletter for June. Here’s just a few things that have been going on at BCB and some events that are coming up:
We are pleased to announce that there are currently two paid employment opportunities coming up at BCB.
Broadcast Support Worker: 26 hours per week. This is maternity cover for 12 months. The main purpose of the role is to support the day to day operation of BCB’s speech based radio programmes, booking guests for the programmes, preparing content, sourcing materials and supporting presenters to broadcast. Full details and application form are available now on the BCB Website. Closing date is Sunday 21st June.
Fundraiser and Business Development Worker; Full time – 12 months fixed term contract. We are looking for an energetic, creative person, with proven experience, to lead on BCB’s fundraising and income generation activities. This includes developing funding proposals, building relationships with local businesses, institutions, and grant making bodies, and supporting community fundraising campaigns. This role is key to ensuring the long-term financial sustainability of BCB. This is a new role funded by the OFCOM Community Radio Fund. Full details will be available very soon on the BCB website.
‘Mama Mia!’
Last month we said ‘goodbye -for -now’ to Jo Kenyon as she goes off on maternity leave. We had a lovely afternoon of tea and cake to send her on her way. Thanks to all who were able to make it. We wish her all the best and look forward to hearing her news very shortly when the time comes.
And the winner is…..
We are very proud to let you know that BCB has been shortlisted in the Bradford BID (Business Improvement District) Member Awards. We are finalists in the Charity and Community category and the awards will be announced at the BID Members Awards dinner at Bradford Live on the 25th June. We know the competition is stiff but fingers crossed….we’ll let you know how we get on.
National Year of Reading 2026
2026 is the National Year of Reading. We’d like to integrate this into BCB and our broadcasting in any way we can. We’d love you to include reading-in its widest form – in your programme, e.g ask your guests about their reading habits, talk about your favourite books, reading with children, the best music books etc. It would be great if you could do that. And do let us know any other ideas that you might have. A help yourself bookshelf in BCB? BCB book club?
Bradford Literature Festival
The Bradford Literature Festival is coming up very soon, 3 – 12 July. The programme has just been launched. We’ll be planning our broadcasting very soon – I’m sure we will be covering the BLF is similar ways to previous years, with a daily festival programme and live broadcasting at the weekends. We need a team of people to do reviews, interview authors, present programmes etc. so if you’d like to be involved please do let me know asap mary.dowson@bcbradio.co.uk
Radio 119
Radio 119 is our project supporting adults with learning disabilities to have greater access to the media and they’ve had an exciting month as usual. They’ve been out and about visiting Bradford People First for their open day to find out more about their service. For their regular 11:30am slot on Tuesday’s About Bradford they interviewed Waddiloves to speak with Adam who is the General Nurse about his placement and role within mental health. In addition they celebrated menta health week by wearing green to show their support. Finally they been practicing lots in the studio, researching, editing and creating new shows to broadcast.
Standing Firm on Our Values
Following the recent local elections, Bradford Council is now led by Reform UK. As a party whose positions on issues such as immigration, diversity and multiculturalism have generated significant concern among many of the communities we serve, this raises important questions for BCB about how we navigate the changing political landscape.
As a community broadcaster, we have a responsibility to provide a platform for public discussion and to reflect a wide range of voices and perspectives from across Bradford. At the same time, we remain firmly committed to our core values of anti-racism, equality, inclusion and social justice.
Staff and some volunteers have begun discussing how BCB responds to these developments, and we want those conversations to be open, thoughtful and inclusive. We are committed to ensuring that all communities continue to feel heard, valued and represented, while also holding those in positions of power to account for the fairness and impact of their decisions.
This is an important moment for BCB and our city. We will continue to share our thinking as it develops and would welcome your involvement in the conversation. If you’d like to share your thoughts, please do email me: maureen.grant@bcbradio.co.uk
Together, we can continue to champion a Bradford that is welcoming, inclusive and fair for all.
Pears Youth Fund Celebration Event
BCB have recently received funding from The Pears Foundation to continue our work supporting young people into learning broadcasting skills and get broadcasting. Broadcast training supports young people build their confidence, improve their communication skills and learn how to produce a radio broadcast/ show.
The event was facilitated by young people and staff from Chapel FM.
We were invited to attend the Pears Youth Fund Celebration event on the 12th of May that was held at Holy Trinity in Leeds. We were made up that Ethan, Bella and Lewis (young people) were able to attend the event with Mary and Dipak.
Bella took part in a Q&A session facilitated by young people from Chapel FM, we all took part in a quiz that we’re proud to say we were joint winners of alongside Leeds Community Foundation (the googles were the winning prize).
The evening was a celebration of some of the young people’s projects that The Pears Foundation support in Bradford and Leeds: there was a short film made by young people at St Christopher’s in Holmewood, acoustic music from the young people at Chapel FM and poetry and spoken word.
Many thanks to all involved with enriching young people’s lives across the region and nationally.
Refugee Week
Refugee Week this year is between the 15th and 21st of June 2026 and it is the world’s largest arts and culture festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary.
This year we are please to say that our Hear My Voice group (made up of members that are refugees or seeking sanctuary) will be taking the lead on conducting interviews, presenting a live programme and attending the Lift the Ban event at Bradford Arts Centre.
They plan to take part in live broadcasts during the week to share their stories of migration, settling in a new city – exploring the adversities they have faced and celebrating the successes they have had.
Expect broadcasts to be in a variety of languages and dialects with interviews with fellow refugees and those seeking sanctuary, support workers and organisations and guests that are invested making the our city a welcoming place for those that have had to leave their homeland.
Join us during the week for insights and interviews from the refugees and those seeking sanctuary experience.
Thornton Arts Trail Live
This weekend, Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th Jun, our roving reporters are broadcasting live from the Thornton Art Trail on from 12-1pm
Thornton Art Trail is a vibrant summer celebration of creativity, set in the heart of Thornton village, BD13. Local artists open their homes, studios, and gardens to showcase a wide range of work—from paintings and ceramics to textiles and sculpture—along a walkable mile-long route. Visitors can explore at their own pace, meet the makers, and enjoy the unique charm of this community-led event. With each venue offering something different, it’s a perfect way to spend a summer day immersed in art and local culture.
We’re still on the lookout for a couple of presenters to join the team in Thornton, so if you’re free to join in the fun, meet us on Saturday and/or Sunday at 11.30am at Fountain Street Arts.
Bradford City Fire Memorial Service on BCB 106.6FM
Bradford City AFC and the Bradford Metropolitan District Council held the annual memorial service on Monday May 11, marking the 41st anniversary of the Valley Parade Fire Disaster.
We broadcast the service live in Centenary Square from 11am-midday
The service, attended by the relatives and friends of those who lost their lives or were injured, as well as many others, took place at the Bradford City Fire Memorial sculpture in Centenary Square at 11am to remember the 56 people who died in the disaster in 1985.
At 11.00am, the City Hall clock bells played ‘Abide with Me’ and ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ to mark the start of the Act of Commemoration.
The service was conducted by the very rev’d Dean Jonathan Triffit and rev’d Oliver Evans, the club chaplain. Readings were given by Max Power and Graham Alexander on behalf of the first-team squad and club.
The Lord-Lieutenant laid a wreath on behalf of His Majesty the King, followed by the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Cllr Mohammed Shafiq, on behalf of the city and district.
Wreaths were also laid by the High Sheriff, the Mayor of Lincoln, representatives of Bradford City AFC and Lincoln City FC, and Professor Ajay Mahajan on behalf of the Plastic Surgery and Burns Research Unit, bereaved families and representatives of the emergency services.
After the service we spoke to people in attendance, including The Lord-Lieutenant, families and those affected by the disaster, including supporters and members of the media who were in attendance at Valley Parade on the day.
Thanks to everyone who took part in the service and who tuned in to BCB 106.6FM.
Featured Programme of the Month
Every month we tell you about a programme on BCB’s broadcast schedule and this month, which is Pride month, we’re telling you about The Equity Show. The show is brought to you by Michael Swires, Andy Suthers and Leon Flemming.
It is an award-winning four-weekly show for the local and wider LGBTQ+ community: the longest running specifically LGBTQ+ radio show in the UK. It goes out every fourth Sunday 12-1pm.
