Welcome to the BCB newsletter for September. Here’s just a few things that have been going on at BCB and some events that are coming up:

 

Black History Month 2026 on BCB

 

It’s nearly autumn, which means time to start getting excited about Black History Month 2026!

 

This year’s theme is “Honouring Our Communities”, and BCB wants to make October a vibrant celebration of Black voices, stories, culture, creativity and history.

 

We’re inviting you to come along to our first planning meeting and help shape the radio programmes we’ll be producing throughout October.

 

📅 First meeting: Tuesday 8th September 2026
🕔 5.00pm – 6.00pm
📍 BCB, St Peter’s House, 1 Forster Square, Bradford BD1 4TY

 

Further planning meetings are 16th and 22nd September.

 

Whether you’ve been involved in radio for years or have never been behind a microphone before, you are very welcome. Training, encouragement and support will be available.

 

Bring your ideas, creativity, experiences and stories – and, most importantly, your enthusiasm!

 

We want to create programmes that reflect the richness and diversity of Black communities in Bradford and beyond. Perhaps you’re passionate about history, music, art, culture, racial or social justice, community life or personal stories. Whatever your interest, we want to hear from you.

 

Many of you are already involved with BCB in different ways, but this is an opportunity to bring even more voices and ideas into our Black History Month programming. Please encourage friends, family and others in your networks to get involved too.

 

By getting involved, you can:

 

– Help create exciting and meaningful programmes celebrating Black heritage and culture.
– Share your stories, experiences and ideas with the wider community.
– Meet and collaborate with people who share your interests.
– Explore the impact and importance of Black history in our communities.
– Learn new radio and broadcasting skills.
– Help ensure BCB continues to be a platform where diverse voices are heard and valued.
– Let’s make Black History Month 2026 at BCB one to remember!

 

Come along, get involved and help us tell our stories, our way.

 

We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday 8th September!

 

Please RSVP to maureen.grant@bcbradio.co.uk

 

New Volunteers

 

We have recently finished training with our first two cohorts of new volunteers in our new BCB Radio studios. They have learned how to plan, script and produce a radio show, how to drive our studio desks and learned some basic editing to get shows ready for broadcast. We’re please to say another group has started – so listen out for some new presenters, new voices and new shows soon.

 

If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer presenter drop us an email to hello@bcbradio.co.uk and we’ll be in touch about attending a taster session.

 

On the search for news and features from your part of Bradford.

 

Sally Cooper is covering Jo Kenyon’s maternity leave, looking after About Bradford and Bradford and Beyond until Jo’s return in summer 2027.

 

She will be booking guests and looking for ideas while she is in post, and we want to hear all about the news in your part of the district. If you are involved in any projects or events that you think we should be talking about, or meet someone you think would make a great guest for a show, let Sally know.

 

You can say hello next time you are in the studios, email her at hello@bcbradio.co.uk, or call 01274 771677. She works part-time, and is in from 1pm Monday to Friday.

 

Radio 119

 

It has been an exciting month for Radio 119, our project to support adults with learning disabilities to have greater access to the media. They’ve been busy working away on interviews for their regular Tuesday slot at 11:30am interviewing Scope, Spacekraft, Mencap and fellow BCBers Jenny & Tony Painter. Joe, who is part of the Radio 119 team, interviewed fellow member Shaun about his radio journey – that will air this month. Lee recorded a music show that will also go out this month.

 

Radio Times

 

Radio Times goes from strength to strength broadcasting live every Tuesday afternoon 2.15pm to 3.00pm with a variety of chat, information sharing, their regular “this day in…” feature, guest interviews and more. We also have a new Radio Times group that are learning new skills and socialising here at BCB Radio. Radio Times is a rolling project supporting new volunteers that are 55+.

 

If you’re interested in joining the groups or taking part please contact Dipak Mistry on 01274 771677 or dipak.mistry@bcbradio.co.uk.

 

Listen Up!

 

Listen Up! Is back at BCB Radio!

 

Listen Up! Supports young people aged up to 20 years old to learn broadcast skills – including planning, scripting, driving the studio desk, rules of broadcasting, editing and when ready having a show ready for broadcasting. We have dedicated young people’s schedule on BCB called BCB Xtra and the shows are broadcast 7 days a week from 6.30pm to 7.00pm.

 

We’re pleased to say we have run some taster sessions over the summer and had a couple a couple of training courses with young people. We will continue with these training courses in the early evenings once school and college have resumed.

 

If you’re interested in taking part in Listen Up! Contact Dipak Mistry on 01274 771677 or dipak.mistry@bcbradio.co.uk

 

Featured Programme of the Month

 

Every month we shine the spotlight on one programme on the BCB schedule. With the new football season having just kicked off we’re telling about Straight From The Bantams Beak which is presented by Bradford City fans Margaret Bartle & Steve Gorringe.

 

Straight From The Bantams Beak is a weekly 30 minute look at all the Bradford City news from the past week, analysis of the previous game. and a passionate fans take on all thing the Bantams. The show goes out every Saturday 12-12:30pm.