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 community voices to each other and to civic leaders.

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

The details of this programme are still being developed. But we are looking to:

• 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 society's leadership and culture.

We are likely to be asking for the first proposals in this programme in 2010.