Bradford’s sporting foundations take over City Park for launch of Played in Bradford

Bradford City FC Community Foundation, Bradford Bulls Foundation, and Yorkshire Cricket Foundation have come together to launch Played in Bradford.

Three of the Bradford district’s largest sporting charities took over City Park to celebrate the launch of a new joint initiative.

Played in Bradford is a new partnership which brings together the official charities of three of the district’s largest sporting clubs. It is composed of the Bradford City FC Community Foundation, the official charity of football club Bradford City AFC; the Bradford Bulls Foundation, the official charity of rugby league club Bradford Bulls; and the Yorkshire Cricket Foundation, the official charity of Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

Coaches, staff members and mascots got together to deliver a series of events for local families at Bradford's City Park.

The project shall see the three organisations work together to support young people in developing employability skills and accessing opportunities, using the power of sport and physical activity to do so. Played in Bradford is supported by Active Bradford, a local charity which provides strategic oversight and coordination to make Bradford a healthier, more active place to live.

Lizzie Saunderson-Trowell, CEO of the Bradford City FC Community Foundation, said: “We are incredibly excited to be launching Played in Bradford. Played in Bradford isn't simply the launch of another partnership. It's a commitment from four organisations who have each spent years improving lives through sport, coming together because we believe we can achieve even more together than we ever could individually. We at the Bradford City FC Community Foundation are ready to begin working with our fellow charities to make a lasting, measurable difference for young people in our community.” 

Played in Bradford shall see the three organisations work together to support young people in developing employability skills and accessing opportunities, using the power of sport and physical activity to do so. (L-R): Billy Bantam, Liaqat Ali (Head of Community Programmes, Yorkshire Cricket Foundation), Kammy Siddique (Operations Director, Active Bradford), Michael Hurley (Education and Development Officer, Bradford Bulls Foundation) and Bull Boy.

Played in Bradford was launched at the Bradford Arts Centre, where the four organisations welcomed partners, fellow charities and key stakeholders from across the district to introduce the project. 

Representatives from each organisation took part in a panel discussion, fielding questions on the project and its future. 

Liaqat Ali, Head of Community Programmes at the Yorkshire Cricket Foundation, who formed part of the panel, said: “Yorkshire Cricket Foundation is excited to be part of Played in Bradford and to work alongside Bradford Bulls Foundation and Bradford City FC Community Foundation. By bringing together our shared values, knowledge and reach across Bradford’s communities, we have a real opportunity to make a lasting impact and use the power of sport to bring people together.”

The launch was followed by a series of family-friendly activities at City Park, right in front of Bradford’s famous City Hall. Activities were delivered by coaches from the three sporting foundations involved in the project, and included football challenges, an inflatable cricket game where participants could try their hand at batting, and a series of rugby passing, catching and physical strength tests.

Bradford Bulls mascot Bull Boy tries his hand at cricket at the Played in Bradford launch.

Michelle Pemberton, Projects and Events Manager at the Bradford Bulls Community Foundation, said: “We're absolutely thrilled to be joining the Played in Bradford partnership alongside Bradford City Community Foundation and Yorkshire Cricket Foundation. By bringing our strengths together, we can create even more opportunities for people across Bradford and make a real difference in our communities.”

Played in Bradford will launch a new youth leadership programme for young people in the district in the coming months. With 27% of the population of the city under the age of 20, Played in Bradford aims to support young people into adulthood and employability opportunities.

Activities at the launch were delivered by coaches from the three sporting foundations involved in the project.

James Brown, CEO of Active Bradford, said: “Collaboration isn't always the easy option but is often the best option for the people and communities we all serve. It's great to see the big Foundations leading by example. Played in Bradford demonstrates what can happen when organisations with a shared purpose come together around a common goal. By combining the reach, expertise and influence of these three sporting Foundations, we can create more opportunities for young people across the district, helping them develop confidence and develop life, leadership and employability skills. We are proud to support this partnership and excited to see the impact it will have for the district in the years to come.”

Three of the Bradford district’s largest sporting charities took over City Park to celebrate the launch of a new joint initiative.

Those interested in finding out more about the Played in Bradford initiative are invited to get in touch with the partner organisations via: office@bcfccommunity.co.uk