Bradford Community Led Heritage
@theleapbd
The Bradford Community Led Heritage programme, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, supports organisations across the Bradford district to explore, celebrate, protect and share the heritage that matters to their communities. It aims to create opportunities for groups who have traditionally had limited access to heritage, leadership and participation.
Heritage can take many forms, including memories, traditions, buildings, languages, nature, archives and the stories that shape people’s identities. In Bradford, this includes a rich living heritage shaped by the city’s post-industrial history and long traditions of migration, resistance and reinvention. South Asian, African Caribbean, Eastern European and Irish communities, alongside working-class Yorkshire families, hold generations of stories reflecting resilience, solidarity and cultural hybridity.
Much of this heritage is not represented in formal archives or heritage institutions. Instead, it lives through community memory, informal gatherings, faith and cultural traditions, grassroots activism and creative expression.
This programme supports creative and community-led projects that bring these stories and experiences to life, exploring what heritage means to people across the Bradford district and ensuring that the heritage of diverse communities is recognised, celebrated and shared.
About the Programme
Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Bradford Community Led Heritage Programme supports organisations and communities across the Bradford district to explore, celebrate, protect and share the heritage that matters to them. The programme puts local people in control of their own heritage stories, creating opportunities for communities who have traditionally had limited access to heritage, leadership and participation to develop their skills, confidence and involvement.
The programme recognises that heritage takes many forms, including memories, traditions, buildings, languages, nature, archives, cultural practices and the stories that shape people’s identities. Bradford has a particularly rich and diverse living heritage, shaped by its post-industrial history and generations of migration, resistance and reinvention. South Asian, African Caribbean, Eastern European and Irish communities, alongside working-class Yorkshire families, hold generations of stories reflecting resilience, solidarity and cultural diversity. Much of this heritage is not held in formal archives or institutions, but lives within community memories, faith and cultural traditions, informal gatherings, grassroots activism and creative expression.
The programme provides funding and support for community-led projects that bring these stories and experiences to life, ensuring that the heritage of Bradford’s diverse communities is recognised, celebrated and shared. Successful organisations will
also benefit from one-to-one guidance, evaluation support, peer learning and connections across Bradford’s heritage sector.
Heritage Development Awards – 10 awards of up to £2,500 (average £2,000) These awards support organisations to turn an initial heritage idea into a practical, creative project. Funding can support activities such as collecting memories and oral histories, researching local stories, community workshops, working with artists or facilitators, exhibitions, films, performances and publications. Funding can also contribute towards materials, venue hire, participant expenses, monitoring and evaluation. The award enables communities to explore, document, celebrate and share their heritage while building skills, confidence and stronger community connections.
Community Heritage Awards – 9 awards of up to £10,000 (average £7,000) These larger awards support organisations to develop projects that explore, celebrate, protect and share Bradford’s living heritage. Projects could focus on memories, traditions, migration stories, language, faith, creativity, archives, nature or local history. The programme prioritises inclusive projects that involve people who have traditionally had limited access to heritage, while building skills, confidence and participation and demonstrating potential for longer-term impact and sustainability.
Young People’s Heritage Awards – 10 awards of up to £500 for ages 16–25 These awards give young people aged 16–25 the opportunity to explore, celebrate and share Bradford’s heritage. Projects can uncover local memories, traditions, stories, languages, cultural practices and lived experiences. Young people must be at the heart of the project, either leading activities or benefiting directly, helping them develop skills, confidence and a stronger connection to Bradford’s diverse heritage. Projects should be inclusive and accessible, particularly for young people who may not usually engage with heritage.
Bradford Heritage Festival Awards – 20 awards of up to £500 The final award supports local groups, community organisations and individuals to develop activities as part of the Bradford Heritage Festival, a week-long celebration of the district’s history, heritage, culture and communities. The £500 awards are available in the build-up to the festival and can support activities such as guided walks, talks, exhibitions, workshops, family activities, traditional crafts, performances and projects exploring Bradford’s industrial, cultural and community heritage. The awards provide a way for local people to contribute directly to the festival, share their stories and celebrate the heritage of their communities.
This structure takes the reader from why the programme exists → what heritage means → how the programme supports communities → the four awards in order, while keeping the individual award descriptions concise.
How to apply:
Applications will only be accepted via this link: xxxxx
The form will not accept input from more than one device; if you are working with other people on your application, you may find it easier to work from Microsoft Word and then copy and paste your answers into the form at the link above.
You will find a pro-forma of the application form here xxxx
Your application must be submitted by xxxxx
If you have any other queries, please get in touch: daanyaal@the-leap.org.uk
Contact & Get Involved
To learn more about the programme please email: info@the-leap.org.uk