 Welcome to the Living Well April newsletter!
Grab a cuppa and read on or click the links to jump to the articles you're most interested in!
Free Training
Three certified courses from the Living Well Academy. Adult Cycle Training Instructor course
Spotlight On: Managing Stress
Find ways to manage stress and stay in control. New text support service to help manage mental wellbeing
Your Health
Gambling harms campaign. Faith based mental health support. Can you help reduce the stigma around mental health? Could you go choc free In May with BHF? The Living Well podcast series is live now!
Active Bradford District
Join a free walking group and make new friends! Join in Park Walk Day. Hire a Bradford Beryl Bike. Join the Better Points rewards scheme.
Children & Young People
Get kids outside this spring with JU:MP Outdoors! Managing screentime for children.
Community Voice
Sign up a team for the Dragon Boat Festival. Keighley Healthy Living activities. New exhibition from Jim Moir. Community led tapestry artwork ‘Threads of Belonging' at Keighley Market
Free Training
FREE Living Well Academy Training Courses
 Living Well Introduction to Mental Wellbeing
Wednesday 29 April: 10am – 11am
Location: Microsoft Teams (online)
Course Code:LWMH006
Adult Mental Health First Aid Refresher Training
Wednesday 20 May: 10am – 2pm
Location: Microsoft Teams
Course Code: (MHFAR002)
Adult Mental Health Aware
Thursday 4 June: 10.30am – 2.30pm
Location: Britannia House, Bradford City Centre
Course Code: (MHFAhalf27)
To book places, click the pink buttons above or send an email to . Please include the course title and course code along with your contact details.
Adult Cycle Training
 A new Adult Cycle Training Instructor course is delivered by Cycle North and accredited by the Open College Network. The course is fully funded for people who intend to deliver adult cycle training in West Yorkshire.
The two-day course covers the core materials such as risk assessment, and skills for delivering learn to ride and basic cycle skills, route planning, ride leader skills and supporting learners with additional needs.
Date: 9 - 10 May
Location: Peel Park, Bradford
If you're interested please click the button below.
Deadline for interest is Sunday 19 April.
Back to top
Spotlight On: Managing Stress
Staying in Control of Stress
 April is Stress Awareness Month, a perfect opportunity to shine a spotlight on something that may not be visible, but that many of us struggle with.
Stress ebbs and flows, its causes can be singular or a combination of things. Work, home, kids, family, money, health... the list is long and one size does not fit all. But when stresses feel overwhelming (and even when they don’t) five simple ideas can help ease the tension and help you to stay feeling in control.
-
Connect with others – a problem shared is a problem halved… talk to friends, family, colleagues. It helps to unburden your worries.
-
Be more active – the feel good factor of doing something physical is worth it.
-
Keep learning – read, listen to a podcast, it all helps.
-
Give to others – consider volunteering, stepping into something new can help you to gain perspective and can be a good distraction.
-
Be mindful – it can be easy to rush through life without stopping to notice what is happening around you. Being more aware of the present moment, your thoughts, feelings and the world around you is sometimes referred to as ‘mindfulness’. Taking some time to reflect can help your mental wellbeing, positively changing the way you feel about life and how you approach new challenges.
24/7 Mental Health Text Support Service
 This service offers free, confidential, 24/7 text support for anyone struggling to cope in West Yorkshire.
Anyone experiencing anxiety, stress, loneliness, depression, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, or other mental health challenges can use the service at any time of day or night.
Text the word ‘BRIGHT’ to 85258
You will be connected to a qualified mental health professional. You can also call 111 and select the mental health option for urgent help from trained mental health professionals, this service is available anytime, day or night.
You can also find more support by clicking the button below.
Back to top
Your Health
Understanding Gambling Harms
 Gambling is often seen as entertainment – something harmless, social, even exciting. But for many people, the reality is very different.
Chapter One, working with Bradford Council, is helping to shine a light on this often-hidden issue and ensure people know that support is available.
Gambling harm can affect anyone
It affects people of all ages, backgrounds and professions. And it doesn’t always look like what people expect. Those most at risk are young men age 18 – 34. It can impact:
- Mental wellbeing – including anxiety, depression and insomnia
- Finances – debt, financial stress and insecurity
- Relationships – conflict, isolation and breakdown
- Work and education – reduced performance or job loss
Early support can make a real difference and prevent harm from escalating.
Watch the video: “The ads made it seem harmless. Stopping gambling gave me my love of football back.”
If you are worried about gambling, for yourself or someone else, please click on the button below.
Faith Based Mental Health Support
 A faith-sensitive approach for all Muslim men and women in Bradford District and Craven, suffering with depression is now available.
Sessions aim to help people feel better by encouraging them to take part in meaningful, enjoyable, and purposeful activities. It’s based on a proven method for managing low mood and depression, but with a special focus on Islamic values.
Help Reduce The Stigma Around Mental Health
 Healthy Minds Green Spaces would like you to suggest messages and wording that could encourage people to seek help for their mental health needs.
Your ideas may go on to be used on social media, leaflets and posters across Bradford District and Craven in the coming months.
Could You Go Choc Free In May?
 The British Heart Foundation asks you to give up chocolate for 31 days in May to help boost your wellbeing while raising vital funds to help BHF fund research to save and improve lives.
Get everything you need to ditch the chocolate with confidence – including a free fundraising toolkit, top tips to curb cravings, and plenty of motivation with a Facebook group.
Benefits of Dechox
- Reduce your sugar intake.
- Help reset your taste buds.
- Encourage more mindful eating.
- Stepping stone to healthier eating habits.
The Living Well Podcast Series
 |
|
Our whole podcast series is ready - Listen now! |
We focus on a key public health topics, including mental wellbeing, early years, youth voice, healthy environments, and everyday behaviours, all while asking one simple question: what actually helps people live well?
Through interviews with health professionals, community leaders, and people with lived experience, the podcast:
- Explains complex public health issues in clear, human language
- Challenges common myths and misconceptions
- Highlights practical actions people can take
- Connects listeners to free local support through Living Well Bradford
If you live or work in Bradford, or if you are interested in how place, policy, and people shape health, The Living Well Podcast is for you.
Back to top
Active Bradford
Join a Free Walking Group!
 Age UK Bradford District believe staying active doesn’t have to mean strenuous exercise. Their walking groups are about gentle movement, friendly conversation, and enjoying the outdoors together.
If you’re returning to walking after some time away, looking to build confidence, or simply wanting some company for a stroll, you’ll receive a warm welcome. No one gets left behind - we walk at a pace that suits the group!
Walking in a group can help you to make new friends, boost your mood and wellbeing, Improve confidence and mobility and reduce feelings of isolation
-
Walks are around an hour long, with a trained walk leader.
-
Routes are carefully selected to be accessible and safe, with public transport links and cafes close by in case of bad weather.
-
Everyone is welcome - whether you’re walking alone or bringing a friend!
Group leader Chris will be there to meet you and lead the walks.
Park Walk Day
 Following on from National Walking Day on held on 2 April, this is the perfect opportunity to highlight the many benefits of walking, from boosting physical health, to improving wellbeing and bringing communities together.
Park Walk day is on Saturday 25 April 2026. It would be great to see the parks of Bradford booming with walkers – walks start at 9am.
Why not get along to any of the six park runs in Bradford and walk the 5k?
Explore Bradford With Beryl Bikes
 Did you know you can now easily hire an electric bike to get around in Bradford?
There are 200 electric powered Beryl Bikes available from docking stations at sites including Norfolk Gardens, Broadway, Bradford Cathedral, Forster Square Retail Park, Horton Park, BRI, Lister Park, Sunbridge Road, North Parade, Shipley town centre and Saltaire.
Simply unlock a bike, using the app, and pay per minute then return the bike to any free docking bay.
Ditch The Car and Earn Rewards
 Better Points is a brand new app for people living and working in Bradford district.
It's free to download and you can simply earn points for journeys you make on foot, bike or on public transport. You can then redeem your points for high street vouchers or even donate them to local charities.
Back to top
Children & Young People
Get Kids Active With JU:MP Outdoors!
 As the days get longer and warmer, JU:MP Outdoors runs throughout spring and it's all about encouraging children and families to get outside and play more, whatever the weather!
We know that time outdoors helps children feel happier, and you can take part as a family too. Over 22,000 family members in Bradford are choosing to move and play more – why not join in?
The Screentime Minefield for Under 5s
 Screens are everywhere. They're a daily part of our lives, and around 98% of two-year olds watch them every day.
There are benefits to screens, but evidence shows that for some, screens may be getting in the way of development. So, to help busy parents navigate this minefield, and based on evidence-informed research, here are some top tips if you’re struggling around managing your children's screen time:
- For under 2s – ideally avoid screen time, other than shared activities like video calls with family or looking through photos together. For 2–5s: try to keep it to 1 hour a day.
- Choose slow-paced, predictable content with simple stories, fewer scene changes and characters who speak clearly.
- Children copy everything so try to limit your screen use around your child.
- Keep bedrooms and mealtimes screen-free. Try swapping screens before bed for a bedtime story.
- Try not to let young children use screens alone – watching together means you can chat about what you're seeing.
- Screens shouldn’t replace sleep, physical activity, play or quality time.
Back to top
Community Voice
Sign Up For Dragon Boat Festival Teams
 The Bradford Dragon Boat Festival is gearing up for another unforgettable year. Join the excitement on 3 - 5 July at Roberts Park, Saltaire.
Round up your team (friends, work collegues, family) to create a maximum of 14 paddlers and dive straight into the action. Registration is open now, so it’s the perfect moment to claim your place on the water. And if racing isn’t your thing, the fun doesn’t stop at the river, there are still plenty of ways to get involved. Expect entertainment, food, activities and plenty to explore all weekend long. Volunteer opportunities are available too. If you'd like to volunteer, please click here to send an email for more info.
Keighley Healthy Living Activities
Keighley Healthy Living is a local charity that delivers a variety of exercise classes, social groups, support groups and opportunities to develop skills. The weekly timetable has over 40 different activities to support you to live a happier, healthier life.
Some examples include:
Exercise Classes – Ballet Be Fit, Cardio Exercise, Body Weight Circuit, Dance and Tone, Rethinking Pain (gentle exercise), Pilates and Yoga.
Social Activities – Conversation Café, RT4All, Crochet & Knitting, Walk and Talk group, Keighley History Walks and Singing.
Support Groups – Maternity Support, Keighley Hearts Support Group, Bereavement Support Group, Rethinking Pain and South Asian Womens Support Group.
Skills Development – British Sign Language, singing and the Oakworth Shed (DIY, woodworking, knitting and crafts).
Cook Confident – Helping people build confidence cooking from fresh ingredients on a budget - 20 and 27 April 2026.
The Dove From Above
 If art and culture is your vibe, we are blessed in Bradford district to enjoy a treasure trove of exhibitions, that make for a lovely and often free day out.
The district welcomes artist Jim Moir, (Vic Reeves), as he presents his work Neo Fauna at Cartwright Hall Art Gallery. On now until 31 August this exhibition show’s Jim’s love of British birds and wildlife. The exhibition features bold, textured paintings created using experimental techniques that layer a variety of mediums.
If You Go Down to Keighley Market Today…
Come down to the market and you're sure of a big surprise! See the community led tapestry artwork called ‘Threads of Belonging’, created in collaboration with local residents and Keighley Creative.
The 6ft-tall banner, which reflects Dalton Mills past, present and future through the eyes of local people, will be displayed in the foyer of Keighley Market until Saturday 9 May. The Threads of Belonging project worked with children, young people, families, and women across the Bradford district to co-create personal and collective expressions of identity thanks to funding from Innovate UK.
Stay up to date! Follow us on social media
 X - Facebook - Instagram
Back to top
|
