Welcome to the BCB newsletter for August. Here’s just a few things that have been going on at BCB and some events that are coming up:
The BCB Radiobox on tour – Greetings from K-Town
Well the BCB Radiobox is finally back on the road! The glass has been fixed and we are fully operational.again. After having a great time broadcasting from City Park for the Bradford Festival, we have now moved to Cliffe Caste Park in Keighley. Over the past week, we have been broadcasting live from several Keighley community events at the Bradford 2025 Beacon and are looking forward to more live broadcasting, and talking all things Keighley before we move on to pastures new next week. Thanks to everyone who has working with us at the Radiobox- it needs a team of BCB people to be there every time we do something at the Radiobox- and there’s lots of learning every time! Do please come and join us in Keighley on Saturday 9th August when we join the celebrations for 75 years of Cliffe Castle Park.
Do you have any memories of the old General Post Office on Forster Square?
As you know, later this year BCB will be moving into the newly refurbished Kala Sangam building – formally rebranded now as the Bradford Arts Centre. The building is also known as St Peters House, but for many people in Bradford it is firmly remembered as the Old Post Office. We are working on a research project with Huddersfield University called ‘Post Office Cultures’, looking at the importance of Post Office buildings and the role they have played in people’s lives. They have commissioned us to capture audio memories of how people used the old General Post Office on Forster Square, with a particular emphasis on the South Asian communities. Do you have any recollections of the Old Post Office? Did you or your family use the Post Office? Any special ways that you did? If so, please get in touch with mary.dowson@bcbradio.co.uk
Developing Confidence in Community Journalism
We have now completed all the sessions in BCB’s collaboration project with Leeds University School of Media The final workshop was with Carl Hartley and Layla Painter, and we looked at how we set a news agenda for BCB and the different ways that we might cover stories. Its been a great collaboration and we are looking at how we might be able to continue in some way over the coming year. A student from Leeds University came and did some filming with us about the project so we expect to share that with everyone very soon. Layla is also producing some fact sheets from the sessions that we will again share with participants as soon as we get them. Thanks so much to everyone who came to the sessions they were really well attended and brought the team of daytime presenters together.
Schools
Our team of Children from Rainbow Primary school have ‘Graduated’ from the BCB Radio Junior Academy! They made their final 30 minute show before they broke up for the Summer Holidays.
‘BCB is a really fun place to be. I got to be a radio presenter and speak on the radio. I am sad this was our last session, I wish we could come back next year!’
Aadilah, age 10, BCB Junior Reporter
‘It has been incredible to see the improvements in the children’s confidence, self-esteem and oracy. In week one, the children were quiet and had to prompted to talk. By the end of term they were interviewing each other, leading discussions and talking at greater length on subjects. This project is helping to give these children valuable life skills.’
Jon Harris, Principal Rainbow Primary Leadership Academy
We look forward to continuing our work with Rainbow Primary after the Summer Holidays.
Citizen Coin
BCB Radio will be taking part in Citizen Coin a project which gives volunteers credit to spend with other local organisations. Citizen Coin recognises and rewards people for doing social good, so we want to join in as a way to help recognise and reward the fantastic work our volunteers do! You will also be able to see other volunteering opportunities available across the district.
We will be announcing more information in the next few weeks, but in the meantime please feel free to sign up and download the app to start your rewards.
https://www.citizencoin.uk/
Pupil Voice
Secondary Pupils from Belle Vue Girls and Bradford Girl’s Grammar School joined us as part of Pupil Voice Bradford Citizen’s project. This Month they produced two shows, the first focusing on Excellence and the second discussing the BDAT Wellbeing Conference that the pupils attended.
Radio Times
What an amazing start to the summer we ran a couple of taster sessions for Radio Times in mid-July. Radio Times is one of our new projects working with new volunteers that are 55+ we have had interest from former teachers, electrical engineers, librarians, seamstresses, writers, ambulance call handlers and more – we also have interest from current 2025 volunteers. We’re into August and running regular sessions on Tuesday mornings between 10.00am and 12.00pm.
We’re providing a weekly drop in session at BCB where people can learn radio skills, and ultimately present a new weekly afternoon programme on BCB. If you know anyone who might be interested in joining the project or finding out more about it then please let us know.
Please contact dipak.mistry@bcbradio.co.uk or mary.dowson@bcbradio.co.uk
Bradford StoryHub Workshops
We had a fantastic Bradford StoryHub session with journalist and documentary filmmaker Katie Mark, who led our Using Journalism for Community Impact workshop as part of the Bradford StoryHub at BCB – huge thanks to everyone who joined us! You can find more about Katie here: https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/profile/katiemark
The session sparked thoughtful discussion on how local stories can challenge harmful national narratives. Participants explored issues like immigration, media bias, and the importance of making stories personal and grounded in place. One point that resonated strongly was how coverage often paints a false picture—suggesting “everyone’s coming to the UK”—when in reality, many immigrants are long-term residents rooted in communities like Bradford.
We talked about how multiculturalism does work, and how local journalism can help counter negative stereotypes by focusing on real people and lived experiences. It’s not just about telling “positive stories”—it’s about showing people as individuals, not statistics. It’s about reclaiming the narrative and highlighting the complexity and humanity of Bradford’s communities.
Language matters. And in a media landscape where Bradford too often gets misrepresented, these workshops are helping people tell stories that reflect the city as it truly is—diverse, vibrant, and full of voices that deserve to be heard.
The Bradford StoryHub welcomed Oliver Kemp, Audience Editor from The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, for a dynamic workshop at Bradford Community Broadcasting. Titled Writing with the Audience in Mind, the session brought together local Bradford residents to explore how to craft stories that inspire, educate, and engage. Oliver led discussions on addressing declining trust in news, moving beyond negative narratives, and amplifying positive, community-driven stories. Key themes included social justice, poverty, homelessness, and underreported global issues, with a focus on highlighting multi-faith similarities. The group also delved into actionable storytelling techniques, such as creating explainers, launching petitions, and engaging with MPs to foster stronger community connections. A huge thank you to Oliver for his engaging session and for sharing his valuable insights with us!
Join our Substack to keep up to date on what we’re doing in Bradford: https://thebradfordstoryhub.substack.com/
Bradford StoryHub Drop-In – We’re going on tour!
Come and meet John Offord, Community Organiser of the Bradford StoryHub, this Sunday as we take the StoryHub on the road!
We’ll be at Beacon’s outdoor family event as part of Bradford Year of Culture 2025 — look out for our gazebo and pop by for a friendly chat about the project. Find out how we’re working with The Bureau of Investigative Journalism and BCB Radio to amplify Bradford’s diverse voices through community storytelling. Share your ideas, experiences, or hopes for the city in a relaxed, family-friendly setting — and help shape the real Bradford narrative.
Sunday 10 August
The Beacon – Cliffe Castle Park, 12pm–2pm
Event details here: https://bradford2025.co.uk/event/bradford-storyhub-drop-in/
Learn more about the project: https://thebradfordstoryhub.substack.com/about
No need to book — just drop in!
‘Hear My Voice’ – BCB Radio Project.
BCB is running a radio training project called ‘Hear My Voice’ for refugees and people seeking asylum in Bradford starting early autumn 2025.
The project will cover all the basic skills needed to make radio programmes for broadcast on BCB radio. No previous experience is necessary!
The main aims of the project are:
To provide radio training for a group of 6 – 8 refugees and people seeking asylum, with the opportunity for people to contribute as volunteer broadcasters, gaining skills and experience, working alongside the BCB community in a positive, supportive, and creative environment.
To use radio broadcasting to create greater awareness and understanding of the refugee and asylum seeker experience among the wider community in Bradford.
The radio training project will be for 8 weeks with one session 2 hours each week. Training will include interviewing skills, recording, editing, radio presenting, using the broadcast studio, programme planning. The project will create radio programmes, reports and features for broadcast on BCB.
For information or to register your interest please contact dipak.mistry@bcbradio.co.uk or mary.dowson@bcbradio.co.uk
Radio 119
It has been a busy month for Radio 119, our project supporting adults with learning disabilities to have greater access to the media. This month they visited Low Ash Primary School to interview the deputy headteacher Dan. Lee Eccles took part in a sponsored walk which was an idea of his he raised £101 for his chosen charity British Heart Foundation who helped look after his mum when she was unwell. RADIO 119 interviewed Lee about his achievement (sponsored walk). Daniel and Tanya visited The Beacon at Bowling Park where we spoke to some volunteers and had lunch in the park. The team have also spent time working on their studio skills and interviewed Keighley People First
Bradford 2025 Roundup
We’ve been busy bees when it comes to Bradford 2025 this month (as we have been every month to be honest!). The BCB RadioBox has been out and about in Centenary Square for BD:Festival broadcasting live on the weekend. More recently the BCB RadioBox has been at Cliffe Castle for the Summer Sounds festival at Bradford 2025’s The Beacon and for the Celebrating Culture Day in the park. Alongside this we’ve been chatting to people who are putting on / are involved with Bradford 2025 events on Bradford & Beyond every day so be sure to tune in 4-6pm to find out the latest Bradford 2025 news.
Featured Programme of the Month
Every month we tell you about one programme on BCB and today we’re telling you about the Arts and Heritage show with the Arts and Heritage officers from Bradford Arts Centre (formerly known as Kala Sangam). The show goes out every fourth Sunday 12-12.30pm (be sure to keep an eye here for exactly when it’s on: www.bcbradio.co.uk/schedule).
The show is brought to you by the four Arts and Heritage officers from Kala Sangam who are based at community hubs around Bradford: Lauren Kelly (Keighley Creative), Claire Hudson (Kala Sangam), Gemma Bailey (South Square Centre) and Ellie Cansdale (Bloomin’ Buds). Each programme they chat about the work they’ve been doing in the specific areas
