Bradford 2025
Putting communities at the heart of Bradford 2025
From the opening ceremony at RISE to the closing celebrations at Myrtle Park, housing association Incommunities ensured its customers were able to take part in the excitement and creativity of Bradford’s year as 2025 UK City of Culture, a year-long celebration of Bradford city and District.
Now Bradford’s year in the spotlight has come to a close, Incommunities has reflected on its role as an official supporter of the programme, helping their residents across the district feel included in one of the country’s biggest cultural moments.
Janey Carey, Executive Director of Customer and Communities at Incommunities, said making Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture events accessible to the local communities that we serve was a key priority.
“Making sure our communities were able to be a part of UK City of Culture was a huge reason for us being an official supporter” she said. “We knew that events might not always be easy for our customers to access for a variety of reasons, but working with the Bradford 2025 team, we could make sure this year was for everyone.
“From the opening ceremony onwards, we made sure our customers could get to free events, feel welcome and enjoy themselves. It was about helping people feel part of something positive happening across Bradford.”
One of the standout moments of the year was the opening of Incommunities Holme Wood Community Hub, which was timed to coincide with Bradford 2025. The launch brought together Incommunities with creative partners including United Arts Project, Holme in the Wood Café and Holmewood Community Association, strengthening local pride and celebrating community-led creativity.
Matt Dakin, Head of Sponsorship at Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture, said: "Incommunities have played a key role in helping Bradford 2025 connect with communities across the district.
“Cultural activity has been rooted in neighbourhoods and we've worked directly with residents to shape projects, events and opportunities that feel relevant and accessible. This partnership has helped ensure Bradford's year of culture was felt and owned locally, creating pride and a legacy that will last well into the future.”
Throughout the year, Incommunities supported and took part in a wide range of events and activities which benefited over 10,000 Bradford residents, including:
- 70 customers received free tickets to attend the immersive The Railway Children experience
- A volunteering day was organised at the Gateway Centre in Ravenscliffe, with colleagues giving their time to clear up the garden space for the people who use the centre
- At Armed Forces Day in the city centre, Incommunities engaged with more than 400 of their residents as a proud sponsor
- The Big Beacon Family Welcome at Cliffe Castle, where 1,500 residents visited Incommunities’ creative space on a sunny day
- Incommunities helped 80 families from Keighley, Shipley, Bingley and Ravenscliffe get to the grand finale at Myrtle Park in Bingley
- Customers and colleagues of Incommunities were invited to name a van. 25 Incommunities vans now bare the chosen names, which will remain on the vans for a number of years.
While Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture has now ended, Incommunities hopes the positive impact will be long-lasting. The next UK City of Culture is planned for 2029 and a new national ‘Town of Culture’ competition has recently been announced, giving places across the country the chance to build on local pride, creativity and community spirit.
Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture was delivered by Bradford Culture Company Limited, a charity supported by public funding, trusts, foundations and sponsors. A year-long celebration of Bradford city and district, Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture has laid the foundations for long-term transformation through its cultural programme, training opportunities, education initiatives, artist-development and capital investments.