Connecting through change

This programme aims to connect different groups and strengthen civil society and civic culture so that Bradford can become a more equal and dynamic city. We want to help connect communities and improve local policies and service provision. In 2004 the JRF made a ten-year commitment to working in Bradford. This work is part of that programme. It reflects our aim to be more directly engaged in connecting communities to each other and to civic leaders.

To read more about this programme, read our Investigations summary (PDF, 90KB)

Overview

We want to support a wider range of communities to connect with each other on issues they identify as important. We also want to promote stronger engagement between community voices and senior stakeholders (those with access to power and resources, such as policy-makers, service commissioners and providers, and employers).

JRF is committing £445,000 to this programme over four years.

Key issues

Our Communities Bradford programme points to the powerful platform for influence created where people whose voices are seldom heard are supported to share their views and experience.

But that work also highlighted gaps in understanding and engagement across the city, for example, between council officials and communities, between different communities marked by geography, class, ethnicity, or faith, and across agencies. Negative media images of the city make it even harder to open up much-needed discussion on important but sensitive issues.

The challenge for this programme is:

• to support a wider range of community and unheard voices to connect with each other on issues that have been identified as important from within communities; and
• to support and promote more direct, deeper engagement between community voices and senior stakeholders (i.e. people with access to power and resources – policy makers, commissioners, providers, employers, etc.).

Key activities

We aim to provide practical support to help the city and people of Bradford, at a time when public spending cuts mean that communities can no longer rely on local government to fulfil many of their key service needs.

This programme aims to kick-start structured engagement with, and support for, public services and communities to co-create and develop solutions to pressing social problems in Bradford.

We will:

• bring together different groups – including those who may not usually be heard in such debates – to identify and discuss important and often difficult issues;
• produce independent evidence and analysis to inform policy; and
• contribute to civil leadership and culture.

JRF is funding work in the following three areas:

1. Social Futures Awards scheme in partnership with UnLtd – a national charity which provides financial and non-financial support for entrepreneurial solutions to social problems. Through up to 13 awards (with a high level of bespoke support and mentoring) this scheme will help to connect different communities and agencies and strengthen civil culture.
2. Connecting through Research – in partnership with Bradford Resource Centre - A 'Bradford Monitor' will provide bulletins that pull together and analyse existing data (community research, Bradford Observatory data, etc.) on issues identified locally. The Monitor will provide support and build capacity for community research as a way to connect different communities.
3. JRF events and Roundtables (2011) - JRF has established itself as a place to convene in Bradford, including small commissions to stimulate debates on important and difficult issues. This will help us to fulfil our aim of connecting across communities, and between communities and agencies.