We’re through to the next round of UK City of Culture 2025!
 Bradford has been named as one of 8 places through to the next round of the UK City of Culture 2025 competition.
More places than ever before entered the contest – which has now been whittled down from 20 places from across the UK, to just 8. This is a major milestone for Bradford!
Thousands of people have been involved in the process so far – including cultural and creative organisations, independent artists, partners from the educational, community and voluntary sector and businesses from across the district.
The pressure is on to create not only a winning bid, but the most inclusive, exciting and distinctive bid possible, from Bradford to Bingley, from Keighley to Ilkley, from, Saltaire and Shipley to Haworth – we can’t do this without you!
Bradford is a profusion of colour, an explosion of energy and a multitude of strong, progressive voices. This is Our Time, Our Place.
Could you put someone forward for Bradford's Community Stars Awards?
 Nominations are now open for the eleventh annual Community Stars Awards, which aim to recognise people from the Bradford District who have gone the extra mile for their communities.
The deadline for nominations is midnight on Friday, 15 October.
The awards, which are organised collaboratively by the Telegraph & Argus newspaper and Bradford Council, honour the district's often unsung heroes, with nominations put forward by members of the public.
New categories have been introduced this year to recognise the responses to Covid-19, with local figures rallying around their communities despite the difficulties brought on by the virus.
These include the 'Covid community star' category, which aims to honour "individuals or community groups who have made an exceptional contribution" in the wake of the pandemic.
'Covid business star' will recognise those companies which have powered through the crisis, while the 'Covid public service star' award will also acknowledge all of the efforts made by people amid coronavirus.
Other award categories include 'good neighbour', 'volunteer of the year' and 'outstanding student of the year', amongst others. Many of the awards are sponsored by our district partners.
Hate Crime Awareness Week
 As part of Hate Crime Awareness Week, people from across the district are coming together to raise awareness and start conversations about hate crime, how we can tackle the issues and how we can move forward and become a more tolerant district.
With the launch of the district’s new Hate Crime Strategy 2021-24, this is an opportunity to continue to address hate crime across the district and challenge prejudices and behaviours that lead to hate crimes, in turn building a better, stronger, and safer community
Throughout Hate Crime Awareness week, events are taking place to keep the conversation active and help bring about change. Hate Crime Awareness events have been organised for both the Bradford African and Eastern European communities. Several of the Districts main organisations working in the hate crime space such as Bradford Council, Bradford Hate Crime Alliance, West Yorkshire Police, Victim Support and Restorative Justice will be there to explain their roles, clarify what a hate crime is, where and how it can be reported, and facilitate a question and answer session.
Bradford residents urged to grab a flu jab when asked
Bradford’s Director of Public Health is encouraging people who live and work in the Bradford district to grab a flu jab as soon as possible to boost their immunity levels this winter.
The flu season is due to start and it has been predicted that this year’s flu season could start earlier than normal and be larger than is typically seen in the UK.
That’s why anyone offered the flu vaccination by a GP, pharmacist or employer should take the opportunity as soon as they are invited to have one.
Last year shielding and social distancing helped to keep the number of flu cases low across the country and have now been lifted so more of the population may be susceptible to flu.
There is an ambitious national programme to vaccinate more people in the UK than ever before and the most vulnerable will be invited first when their vaccination is available and ready.
Getting vaccinated will also reduce pressures in the health and care system with winter outbreaks of Covid-19 also likely.
Living Well’s stop smoking service can now help more people to quit for good
Living Well’s stop smoking service has been expanded and is now also available in some GP practices and pharmacies in Bradford district.
In support of Stoptober, the annual campaign from Public Health England to help people quit smoking, Living Well is keen to let everyone know that it’s never too late to quit and stopping smoking is one of the best things anyone can do for their health.
The Living Well stop smoking service offers people free, personal support with ongoing professional guidance. Expert advisors will determine the best methods and aids to help people to quit for good. They also help people to manage cravings, and explain how to use proven methods and treatment including NRT (nicotine replacement therapy).
Tree for Every Child marks Apple Day with new video and chance to get involved
With Apple Day on the calendar for this month, Bradford Council’s Trees and Woodlands Service is inviting schools, community groups and individuals to consider planting apple, fruit and other trees on their land.
How to plant a tree has now been set out in clear and easy steps in a video by Fruit Works Co-operative, a partner in the council’s Tree for Every Child project. Local resident Tabassum Kazi plants an apple tree in her back garden, explaining each step as she goes along, from digging a hole to planting the tree, mulching the ground around the base, maintenance and watering to aid the tree’s strong and healthy growth.
Takeaway trees are one of the options available through the Tree for Every Child project, which was launched in November 2020. The project aims to plant 55,000 trees over two years – the equivalent of one tree for every primary school child in the district.
£1.2 million grants to support local recovery
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We are awarding £1.28 million in Covid-19 grants to local Business Improvement Districts (BIDs).
The funding is being provided to the BIDs to allow them to help local city and town centres to recover and grow strongly following the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and resulting restrictions.
It’s expected the Additional Restrictions Grant funding will be spent on a range of programmes designed to support local businesses, drive footfall and improve the vibrancy of the city and local town centres.
The Bradford BID will receive instalments of up to a maximum of £603,000 with the Ilkley BID being offered up to £320,000 and the Keighley BID having a maximum of £362,000.
The allocations are based on proposals put forward by each BID and the programmes of support needed for the number of businesses in each area.
This is part of a wider package of support for businesses that we have put in place since the first lockdown in March last year.
So far, the council has delivered over £222million in Covid-19 grants to businesses impacted by the government’s restrictions.
Recently the highly successful Bradford District Microbusiness Support scheme which has provided advice, training and support to over 200 small businesses has been extended to 2022.
Our Invest In Bradford team has helped countless local businesses with advice and information.
We have offered an outdoor trading grant to assist the local hospitality sector to extend open air trading spaces and has delivered a number of arts-led recovery initiatives.
In July, we and our partners lunched Summer Unlocked – a series of events designed to welcome people safely back to public spaces including city and town centres over summer.
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