organisations

Get ready for a celebration like no other—a whole week dedicated to imagination, creativity, and the incredible talents of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) across Bradford and Keighley!  

From Monday 27th October to Friday 31st October, the district will come alive with events delivering colour, music, movement, and creativity—a total focus on SEND children, young people, and their families. And to top it all off, we’re going out with a BIG BANG celebration day on Saturday, 1st November!   

Whether it’s painting, performance, poetry, puppets—or something we haven’t even imagined yet—SENDiVERSE Festival will shine a spotlight on the voices and visions of SEND communities, bringing together families, artists, schools, health and care professionals, and cultural organisations in a joyful explosion of creativity

There are two ways to be involved: 

1. Host a SEND activity for children, young people or families between Monday 27th October and Friday 31st October.  

2. Take part in the Big Bang on Saturday, 1st November.  We will be releasing information about this in the coming weeks. 

Monday 27th October to Friday 31st October.   

We want to see a range of inclusive activities and events for SEND children, parents and carers and are inviting your organisation to get involved by hosting and running an event at your own location between 27th October and 31st October.  The activity you offer might be something you are already planning, or you might like to create something specially for SENDiVERSE. Rap workshops, art class or drama workshop – we need a range of activities to inspire young people to participate during the week. This is a celebration of all things SEND. If you are a sports organisation you might want to put on introductory sessions, if you are a support organisation you could run a coffee morning and chat for parents/carers or if you are supporting young people into work and independent living you might like to host an inspirational talk, tour or activity.  It’s entirely up to you what you offer.  

How does it work for my organisation? 

1. Decide on your activity (including dates, time and venue) 

2. Submit your event details here including uploading your organisation logo and event poster (if you have one). 

3. We will use the information you provide to create a SENDiVERSE event listing on our website and to promote your event on social media.  SENDiVERSE will be promoted throughout September and October. 

4. We will send you a media pack so that you may share and promote your activity using SENDiVERSE branding. 

5. We will also provide monitoring and evaluation forms. Feedback on all of the events that make up SENDiVERSE is important in order for us to evaluate the Festival and to give it a future across the district.  We kindly ask you to help us by completing two forms – a sign-in sheet used during your activity and a post event report.  Information about monitoring and evaluation reporting may be found here and Sign in sheet here. 

You can view a sample application form here 

If you have any questions please get in touch with us at: info@the-leap.org.uk 

Micro-commission applications are invited for up to £500, with an expected average of £250 for activities and projects that meet the following criteria: 

Criteria and Eligibility:  

• This is a celebration of our SEND Community.  

• The activities must benefit children, young people and parents/carers.  

• Commissions are available for arts, creativity and culture related activities only.  

• The activities must take place in Bradford District during the period 27th to 31st October 2025.  

• Projects that will reach children, young people, and families in Bradford District where engagement with arts and culture is historically low.  

• You can apply for Award up to £500 however we expect applications to average £250.  This can include direct delivery costs (excluding salaries), room hire, materials, and contracted workshop leader/artist. 

• Project ideas that are community led and have demonstrably involved children, or young people and families in project design.   

• Projects that involve collaborations between artists, groups and organisations that work with children, young people, and families in Bradford District.    

• We prioritise support for areas and people in the Bradford District that are demonstrably affected through socio-economic disadvantage. 

• This funding is for organisations only.  

• Organisations must be based in the Bradford district.  

• Your organisation must have a safeguarding policy in place.  

• Your organisation must have an appropriate level of public liability insurance in place.  

• You must complete a risk assessment for your activity.  

• The commission application must be made by an authorised member of staff with the authority to do so.  

• Must deliver the project, including all evaluation and reporting by noon on Friday 7th November 2025.   

• Micro-commission payment will be made upon receipt of invoices.  Payment will be in two parts.  The first payment may be invoiced on confirmation of the commission.  This will be for the full amount less £50.00.  Upon completion of the project/activity and completion of all monitoring and evaluation requirements, the balance of £50.00 may be invoiced. 

Submit your application: NOW CLOSED

Your application will be assessed in the following stages:  

1. Desk assessment to confirm eligibility criteria is met, completed by The Leap. 

 2. Application assessment - an independent Community Assessment Panel will assess all complete applications. 

timeline: 

Applications open: Thursday 21st August 

Applications close: 8.30am, Monday 15th September 

Applications to panel: Tuesday 16th September 

Assessment Stages: Wednesday 17th to Wednesday 24th September 

Notification: Friday 26th September 

Deadline for return of T&Cs and first invoice submission: Friday 3rd October 

Activity delivery between: Monday 27th and Friday 31st October 

Monitoring and evaluation returns: Friday 7th November 

Deadline for payment of final invoice (£50.00): Friday 21st November 

about the community assessment panel:  

To create skills, ownership and to devolve power to local people The Leap staff and Consortium do not select the SENDiVERSE projects receiving micro-commissions. Instead, an independent panel of local people, called a Community Assessment Panel decides on the projects that are selected. This Panel is made up of a diverse combination of local people, organisations and previous Award winners. Between them they have a mix of knowledge and experience of local communities as well as arts, culture or heritage in Bradford District. These panels change for each funding round. The independent assessment panel will use the micro-commission eligibility and criteria described in this document to reach their decisions. Please refer to the micro-commission eligibility and criteria when completing the application form. 

Information about monitoring and evaluation reporting may be found here and Sign in sheet here

You can view a sample application form here

Submit your application here: NOW CLOSED

If you would like any help with your application or if you have any questions please contact us by emailing info@the-leap.org.uk  or producer@the-leap.org.uk