To celebrate Black History Month, Bradford Council has supported Caribbean Conversations, which has brought together local artist Tim Smith and local organisation Windrush Generations to create an exhibition in City Park.
This new exhibition displaying a unique archive of photographs, taken over a sixty-five year period, celebrates the light, life and landscapes of the English-speaking Caribbean.
The photographs will be on display for all to see in the windows of the Theatre in the Mill, Aldermanbury, City Park, from 24 October to 30 November 2020.
Over the past decade Bradford photographer Tim Smith has travelled back to his childhood home of Barbados, as well as many other islands in the region with close connections to Britain. Some of his photographs now make up a striking window display in Bradford’s City Park, together with pictures taken by his father Derek Smith on various islands during the 1950s and 1960s.
Windrush Generations, a voluntary organisation of people of Caribbean heritage living in Bradford, described the display as providing “A window on the other part of who I am”.
Charles and Nigel Guy of Windrush Generations have also worked with Tim by organising a series of on-line workshops, called Caribbean Conversations, where the photos are used as a springboard for people to share their memories and reflections on life in the Caribbean region.
This display is a taster for a much bigger show planned for Bradford in 2021. Island to Island will use more photographs and people’s stories to explore how life in the Caribbean has changed over the last sixty-five years, showing how each island has its own special character and links to Britain.
Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Healthy People and Places, said: “Supporting local talent and organisations to collaborate and create work like Caribbean Conversations is vital to educating and celebrating the rich black history we have here in Bradford.”
Tim Smith says: “I’m aiming to produce an exhibition which moves beyond the popular stereotypes of ‘Paradise Islands’ to show real people in real places leading real, everyday lives. It’s been a great pleasure to look through my father’s pictures and combine them with my own. These bring back lots of memories for me. Hopefully they will do the same for many visitors to the show who have lived in, or visited, the Caribbean.”
These workshops and the display are supported by Bradford Council and are a culmination of events which have been happening across the district as part of Black History Month.
Bradford Council has announced plans to help feed thousands of disadvantaged children during the half-term school holiday.
The council is donating £20,000 to food banks across the district and is also working with community organisations to serve up more than 10,000 meals to vulnerable families during the October break.
The plan was announced by the deputy leader and portfolio holder for education, employment and skills, Councillor Imran Khan, who described it as “absolutely the right thing to do”.
It builds on the success of a scheme the council ran over the summer holidays when it funded 45 charities and community organisations to run summer holiday clubs providing food and activities to school children.
The decision to provide support through the October half-term school break was taken after a motion to extend free school meals over holidays during the coronavirus pandemic was rejected in the House of Commons on Wednesday evening. The motion had been inspired by a campaign by footballer Marcus Rashford.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe said, “At this time of national crisis it is the role of Government to step up and support those who are struggling most. We were very disappointed in the result of the debate in the House of Commons on Wednesday. If successful this would have supported Bradford families. The resulting outcry has been huge. We have stepped in to help but it’s also great to see that businesses and voluntary sector organisations across the district are lending support. It’s a real team effort.”
Cllr Khan said: “As a council we felt compelled to step up. We are committed to ensuring that no child goes hungry in Bradford district. It is absolutely the right thing to do.
“We know that school holidays are tough for our poorest families during this time of COVID. For those already struggling on low incomes, finding the money for the extra meals is very challenging. The dreadful financial consequences of COVID-19 have exacerbated the problem.
“During the summer holidays more than 2,300 school-age children were helped by our Holiday Activities and Food Programme. I am delighted that of the 45 organisations we worked with then, more than 30 have already answered our call, at very short notice, to help provide meals for our most vulnerable children and families during this half term.”
JU:MP Leads is a new training and mentoring programme delivered in partnership with Join Us: Move Play, Bradford Youth Service, BYDP and Bradford Sports Development Unit.
The JU:MP Leads programme is perfect for those interested and passionate about having fun and bringing creativity into leading active, healthy indoor and outdoor activities in their communities. JU:MP Leads is a fantastic head start into a career in health and community leadership!
JU:MP Leads is the perfect opportunity to achieve nationally recognised qualifications in multi sports, games, activities and leadership training to take into your future career!
Taking place between November 2020 to September 2021, you will complete practical training, including placements in local youth/community centres, and sessions of theory and skill building.
Training will take place on evenings and weekends and wherever possible will be tailored to any existing current commitments such as 6th Form, college, university or employment.
A call for young people aged 16 to 25 years who are interested in Sports Leadership, to become the Bradford Districts first JU:MP Leads.
If you are interested in inspiring others to play more football, cricket, dance, running, table tennis, basketball, climbing, or even a good game of kerby, then get in touch to apply!
Applications are encouraged from young people who are currently under represented both in the sports and health industry. This includes Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic, refugee and new migrant, female and those with disabilities.
To be eligible to participate in this programme you must live in any of the following Sport England Local Delivery Pilot areas: Allerton, Lower Grange, Fairweather Green, Girlington, Manningham, Heaton, Frizinghall, Windhill, Bolton Woods, Bolton and Undercliffe, Eccleshill and Fagley.
Come and find out more information about the JU:MP Leads opportunity and the recruitment process at our three socially distanced information sessions within your area!
Tuesday, 27 October 1pm to 3pm - Peel Park Near Peelers Café. BD3 0LY Wednesday, 28 October 1pm to 3pm - Lister Park near The Oak Lane entrance. BD9 4NA Thursday, 29 October 1pm to 3pm - Windhill Community Centre. BD18 2NR
If you can't make these dates, you can also request a chat on the phone, or visit!
Safely working COVID-19: JU:MP Leads are committed to working safely under the latest COVID-19 Guidelines. All training, placements and activities will be safely adapted.
Councillor Abdul Jabar, portfolio holder for neighbourhoods and community safety, said:
“This training is a great opportunity for young people who are passionate about sport and supporting their communities to gain new skills.
“We know that COVID-19 brings many challenges for our district. Finding creative ways to stay fit and healthy during this pandemic and maintain peoples’ health and wellbeing will be so important in the months ahead. So if you’re aged 16 to 25 and are interested, come along and find out more.”
Bowling Pool will reopen next week with new upgraded facilities.
The pool has been closed for essential maintenance work to upgrade the facilities, improve energy efficiency and reduce its running costs.
The pool has had a new roof, refurbishment of the pool plant, new heating and ventilation system, major electrical work and decorated throughout. The pool will open on Wednesday, 28 October.
One major upgrade to the facilities on offer at the pool is a new poolside sauna. The sauna will not open yet due to COVID-19 and safety restrictions but it will be open as soon as it is safe to do so.
The pool will initially open for length swimming, but we will shortly be getting in touch with customers about restarting swimming lessons.
Customers must book and pay on line for their swimming sessions at all Bradford Council pools and sports centres.
Further work is still ongoing at the site to create a brand new gym and fitness area. The gym is expected to be ready to open later this year.
Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council's Executive Member for Healthy People and Places, said: "I am so pleased that Bowling Pool is reopening and I'm sure that the residents who use the pool will see a difference and be able to use the new facilities when we are able to open the sauna safely.
"The new gym will be a great addition to the offer at Bowling Pool and I look forward to the gym opening later this year."
The owner of a Bradford gym has been fined £10,516 by Bradford Magistrates in relation to breaches of COVID-19 legislation.
Mr Tahier Hussain Shah, who runs Lifestyle Gym in Kyme Mills, has pleaded guilty to eight breaches of COVID-19 legislation and three charges of obstruction.
A legal prohibition notice for the gym to close had been issued following a number of complaints and recorded breaches both during the initial lockdown period, which started in March, and when new restrictions were brought into place on 31 July, 2020.
It follows a significant number of complaints from the public from March and a number of visits from environmental health officers to check that the premises were adhering to the legislation. On certain occasions, the officer carrying out the inspection was obstructed from carrying out their visit.
Environmental health officers recorded members of the public were using the gym during inspections to check if the facility was closed on several occasions, with over twenty people recorded as being in the premises during more than one inspection.
Magistrate Mr Benedetto Paolozzi, in the chair for the hearing, stated that Mr Shah showed blatant disregard for public health and the health of the community. He also advised that he would receive a financial penalty due to the breaches and that he had received a COVID-19 business grant.
The offences took place during periods where Indoor gyms were required to close due to the risk of spreading COVID-19. At the time of the file being sent through for prosecution, the BD3 postcode area was in a high risk area, with high numbers of COVID-19 cases.
A spokesperson for Bradford Council said:
“It was clear from this case that Mr Shah clearly understood the requirement to close and had received advice and guidance from our Environmental health team – yet he continued to allow members of the public into the gym with blatant disregard for the legislation and the serious risk posed by the spread of COVID-19 in a community with many cases and high risk groups.”
“As a Council, we have worked with businesses to offer support, guidance and the education they need to be able to help keep their customers as safe as possible from the risk of COVID-19. But if anyone puts the Public at risk on a frequent basis, such as in this case, we will have no hesitation to prosecute to protect the health of our district.”
A restaurant on Manchester Road has been directed to close immediately by Bradford Council for breaching COVID-19 legislation by hosting events and weddings
Environmental Health officers have served the order on the Lahori Gate restaurant for the persistent failure of the owner to manage and control risks associated with coronavirus transmission.
It follows a number of complaints from the public that they were hosting events and weddings with more than the maximum 15 people permitted.
Evidence has been obtained that the venue held a wedding on two occasions last week following reports that the car park was full, doors locked and an event going on inside.
Guests, including a bride and groom, have been witnessed all leaving the restaurant at the same time from all exits rather than using the one way system that the restaurant said they had in place.
Environmental health officers are also concerned that those within the venue have not been social distancing or wearing face masks when required to do so.
The order will initially remain in place until 25 November, 2020 or until they can provide evidence that they can operate in a COVID secure way.
Other restaurants in the district are also being warned that, if they are holding weddings, they should close the restaurant to other customers whilst the event is on and stick to the 15 guest rule.
Environmental health officer are concerned other venues may be using the guise of operating as a restaurant and pretending that some guests have booked separately.
A spokesperson from Bradford Council said:
“We urgently needed to take action as the premises represent a serious and imminent threat to public health in the Bradford area.”
“We are still seeing high infection rates across the city and it is up to residents, businesses and people who work in the district to be responsible and abide by the Tier 2 regulations and advice. This is the best way we can reduce the R rate locally and tackle COVID-19.”
“Whilst the vast majority of businesses are complying with the regulations we have a small number of businesses that continue to flout the law and we will not hesitate to take the appropriate action if they are putting the health and lives of others at risk.”
A board set up to help the district become more sustainable has decided its first tasks will be to focus on the local green economy, funding opportunities, supporting the council with its Sustainable Development Action Plan, and engaging with people across the district.
The Bradford District Sustainable Development Partnership aims to help the district become net zero-carbon by 2038, alongside increasing the sustainability of communities and businesses by adapting to the changing climate, creating more sustainable homes and buildings, and recognising skills gaps to ensure the district is ready to capture opportunities in a new green economy.
Dr Davies has previously chaired and been a member of a number of environmental organisations and is a former Chief Executive of two West Yorkshire-based companies. Vice Chair is Dr Alice Owen, an associate professor in business and sustainability. Organisations represented on the board include Bradford Council, Incommunities, Keighley College, Airedale Hospital, the University of Bradford, Yorkshire Water, Yorkshire Building Society and Sunrise Radio.
Dr Davies said: “As a board, we will be using the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals as a framework for our plans, and we are absolutely committed to supporting the council to achieve its zero-carbon targets while also ensuring people’s lives are improved through making the district a greener, healthier place. Our vision is to ensure every resident understands how their lifestyles and livelihoods fit in to improving the sustainability of the Bradford district and can contribute their ideas.”
The council is battling against COVID-19 and is planning for economic recovery, and it wants sustainability to be at the heart of its plans. Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Executive Member for Healthy People and Places, said: “The first meeting of the Sustainable Development Partnership Board is a significant step forward in our objective of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2038, and in making this relevant and supportive of every member of our communities. We look forward to what ideas come out over the coming months and to progressing our support for a greener local economy.”
The Council recently added ‘A Sustainable District’ to its priorities and will work towards making it easier for individuals, households and businesses across the district to adapt to climate change and live and work more sustainably. Other ways the council is working to address this can be found here - www.bradford.gov.uk/environment/climate-change/climate-emergency-and-green-economy/
The partnership board’s next meeting will take place in mid-December and it will meet four times a year.
