Moving to a new area is not always easy.
Getting involved can help you feel more at home – and it is fun!
There are opportunities to meet new people, see new places and enjoy activities.
Also – go to: Have your say on your local area.
Enjoy your local area
- How to find out what is going on
- Groups and activities
- Volunteering and learning new skills
- Community Centres
- Children’s Centres
- Leisure Centres
- Libraries
- Museums
- Parks
- Grow your own fruit and vegetables – join an allotment group
Many things are free, and you can find up to date listings on Visit Bradford, as well as Free Things in Bradford.
How to find out what’s going on
In Bradford, there are lots of ways to find out what’s going on.
This includes newspapers and newsletters, radio, TV, websites and social media.
Here are some you could try.
Social Media
- Bradford Producing Hub: https://twitter.com/bdproducinghub
- The Leap Bradford: https://twitter.com/theleapBD
- Bradford For Everyone https://twitter.com/BfdForEveryone /
- Bradford Lit Festival: https://twitter.com/BradfordLitFest
- Volunteering Bradford: https://twitter.com/BradfordVC
- Council for Mosques: https://twitter.com/Council4Mosques
- Safer Bradford: https://twitter.com/Safer_Bradford
- Bradford 2025: https://twitter.com/bradford2025
- Bradford Pride: https://twitter.com/pride_bradford
- Bradford Zone: https://twitter.com/bradfordzone
- Bradford Refugee Forum: https://twitter.com/BdfRefugeeForum
- Hidden Bradford: https://twitter.com/hiddenbradford
- Visit Bradford: https://twitter.com/visitBradford
Newspapers and Magazines
Telegraph and Argus – Bradford’s main local newspaper
The Bradford Review – free magazine – every two months
The Yorkshire Evening Post
TV
RADIO
BBC Radio Bradford – a new radio station DAB Digital Radio 774 (MW/AM) and online
BCB Radio – Bradford Community Broadcasting
Paigham Radio – broadcast from Bradford – Voice of the Muslim Community
Groups and Activities
Joining a local group or activity is a really good way to meet other people and feel part of life in Bradford.
You may want to make a contribution to your new city by helping it to improve. Look, for example, at Better4Bradford – the city’s fastest-growing community action group.
Many groups offer opportunities to get involved in your community, or take part in hobbies and social activities.
Many of the activities and venues are free of charge.
You may have to pay to take part in some activities.
Visit Bradford is an online guide to what’s on in Bradford, including music, film and the arts.
Other arts and cultural events and contacts can be found in the links below:
Sport, leisure, fitness
- Active Bradford
- Community Sports and Activities Development in Bradford
- Table Tennis – Play FREE at the Ping Pong Parlour
- Gym at Khalsa Fitness Gym
You can find football or cricket teams near you. Why not try it? They need new people.
If you have never played cricket before – you can always learn!
- Football – enter your postcode
- Cricket – Google using your postcode e.g. BD8 Cricket Clubs
Volunteering and Learning New Skills
Doing volunteering work can be a really good way to get involved in your local community.
You can meet new people and get experience which could even help you find a job.
Find out more at Volunteering Bradford.
Learning English will also really help you, by giving you the skills and confidence to have conversations with other people in your community.
There are many brilliant services in Bradford that teach English. To see your nearest groups, go to: Learning English Bradford, and put in your postcode.
Community centres
Most local areas in Bradford have a community centre.
These are run by either the council or sometimes a local charity, faith or community group.
The centres usually offer activities and groups eg art and crafts, sport, exercise, games, family activities. To find your local community centre, Google using your postcode e.g. Community centres near BD3. You will get a list of addresses and a map.
Leisure centres
There are many leisure centres in Bradford, offering gyms, swimming pools and sport and exercise classes. There is a small charge for classes. Or you can become a member and pay monthly or every year. Find out more at Active Bradford.
Libraries
There are several libraries in Bradford. You can:
- read and borrow books
- read newspapers
- get information leaflets
- enjoy activities and groups e.g. children’s storytime, reading groups, photography, history
- get online – there are also free computers to use, free Wi-Fi
- get help with how to use a computer or tablet
- practise the driving theory test
Museums
There are 7 museums and galleries in Bradford. Most of them are free. Sometimes you have to pay an entry fee for special exhibitions, or to look round if the venue is a historical building
Parks
There are 4 big parks in Bradford and several smaller ones. All are free to visit. They are good places to enjoy beautiful scenery and get exercise. Some of them have activities, events and cafés too.
Allotments
Join in with Community Gardening – or rent your own allotment.
You can take part in free Community Gardening / Allotment activities.
An allotment is a piece of land. There are several community allotments in Bradford, where you can grow things as part of a community group. Bradford Refugee Allotment in BD9 are a good place to start learning. And you can contact Bradford4Better, to find about B4B Community Gardening.
Some community allotment groups will still be meeting outside, during Covid-19. Why not get in touch ?
You can grow your own fruit and vegetables.
You can meet people, get exercise and fresh air and provide fresh food for your family.
Or you can rent your own allotment – usually from Bradford Council.
- There is a cost to pay every year, but it is not usually very expensive.
- Be aware, some allotment sites have long waiting lists – but it is a really good idea to get on the list – maybe for more than one allotment site.
- It costs £43 per year (you may be able to get half price) – maybe extra for water.
Find out how to get an Allotment on the Bradford Council website.
