Emmaus is a homelessness charity that runs two large charity shops in Bradford. They sell furniture, homeware, clothing, toys, records and bric-a-brac. They have a furniture delivery service. They offer training and good volunteering opportunities.

The Cross Lane shop in BD7 is in a big old cinema building and has an ‘indoor street’ concept.

Plaza Cinema, Cross Lane, Bradford BD7 3JT

Mon – Fri 11:00-3:00; Sat 11:00-2:00 Phone: 01274 945270

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The Bank Street shop in BD1 is newly opened!

32-34 Bank Street, Bradford, United Kingdom

Mon – Fri 09:30-4:00; Sat 10:00-4:00 Phone 01274 955870

Solidaritech repurpose your unwanted laptops, desktops, tablets and smartphones, passing them on to asylum seekers and refugees to help them resolve their immigration status, pursue studies and start their lives in their new country. Solidaritech professionally wipe your old hard drives, installing new Operating Systems to make a new, quicker and more usable machine.

Speak to your support organisation to make a referral.

First Response is a Bradford and district NHS service where you can get urgent help with mental health. If you think you are having a mental health crisis, you can contact First Response. The service is available 24/7. It is for people of all ages.

St Philip’s is a warm friendly church, teamed with St Barnabas’, St Martin’s, and St Paul’s, as the Parish of Girlington, Heaton and Manningham. Sunday services at 10:30am.

Refugee Education Training Advice Service

RETAS offers advice and support to refugees, asylum seekers and other new migrants. The organisation is based in Leeds, but does some work with people in the Bradford district. During Covid, you can still get advice about :

• housing
• Universal Credit
• adult learning
• opening a bank account
• finding work

If you do not have enough credit, leave your name and number. They will always call you back.

The Invest in Bradford team has experienced business advisers to support any business looking to start-up, relocate or expand in the district.

Solace has been offering therapeutic services in Bradford since 2008 in partnership with Bradford Action for Refugees, which is now part of Refugee Action.

‘Health – Hope – Humanity’

Bevan Healthcare is a Social Enterprise.  We are committed to getting people the health care they need.

Covid Update – some services are online or by phone, just for now.  

We provide a GP service, to meet the needs of :

• people who are homeless or in unstable accommodation
• people who have come to Bradford as refugees or to seek asylum

At the Bevan House Wellbeing Centre, there are opportunities for:

• arts and creativity
• physical activity
• healthy eating
• volunteering
• mutual aid
• befriending
• self-help

Support with:

• employment
• benefits
• housing
• debt
• legal advice
• parenting problems

Learning and education:

• English as a Second Language
• literacy and numeracy
• computing and ICT
• skills for work

Recovery and managing health conditions:

• substance misuse
• physical and mental health problems, such as diabetes, cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, depression, stress and anxiety
• support for specific groups, such as female asylum seekers and refugees, homeless or at risk men.

You can find reception and surgery times on the NHS website.

The UK’s first Theatre Company of Sanctuary delivers learning programmes for asylum seekers, refugees and migrants new to Bradford. SBC provides Creative Skills for Employment training, public speaking and campaign training, performance making and wellbeing projects throughout the year. Stand & Be Counted is a campaigning theatre that tours nationally and internationally.

Polski Klub Jagoda (Bradford Polish Club) is a social venue, bar and restaurant near the city centre.

The Bradford Foundation Trust is an organisation inspired by the Islamic tradition, uniting people of all faiths and none, to bring life to a wider and more diverse community spirit. The Prophet Muhammad, Upon Whom Be Peace, said : “The best companion in the sight of God is the one who is best to his companion, and the best neighbour in the sight of God is the one who is the best to his neighbour.”

Bradford Foundation Trust’s community work is with vulnerable people, for example refugees and asylum seekers, women fleeing violence, and families struggling to live. Through active fund-raising they finance and run several initiatives :

• food for hungry families – Food Box Campaign

• cash for needy families – Crisis Cash Campaign

• support for vulnerable people

• community access to partners (eg housing, advice, health)

St John’s Church, Bowling is a friendly, welcoming church with lots of community activities that you can join in.

The MCard is a smartcard that makes travelling on ANY buses and trains across West Yorkshire really simple – and best value.

You can buy an MCard online, or at the Bus Station Travel Centre at Bradford Interchange.

You can top up your MCard at Bradford Interchange, or online, or at a Payzone outlet near your home. There are at least 3 Payzone outlets in each Bradford postcode – usually in a shop. https://payzone.co.uk

BHCA aims to reduce hate crimes, increase reporting, and ensure support for victims. If you think a hate crime has happened, please report it.

You can report it to West Yorkshire Police – phone 101.

In an emergency, call 999.

Or, if you prefer not to give your details to the police, you can always report what has happened at one of the many Hate Crime Reporting Centres in Bradford eg. Bradford College, Bradford City Football Ground – on match days, Al Mahdi Mosque, Girlington Advice Centre – and many more places. For a full list of Centres near you, go to BHCA Reporting Centres.

Bradford African Community (BAC) supports refugees and asylum seekers to settle and integrate in Bradford. There are support groups, interesting and useful activities, education, homework club, social events, family events and many opportunities to join in and make friends.

Don’t hesitate to contact BAC if you have any questions – and if you want to join them.

UK Butterflies is a Non-Profit Organisation, supporting EU citizens in Bradford. It offers free immigration advice (OISC registered Level 1), by referral, for vulnerable EU citizens, including EUSS applications. All immigration advisers speak Polish/Slovak/Engish. UK Butterflies also runs social events, fund raising and community cohesion activities.

Arouk is an international charity based in the city of Bradford.

It is led by people who now live in Bradford, after they or their families experienced persecution in Myanmar and refugee life in Bangladesh.

They advocate and campaign. They also run many community and fund-raising projects in the city, to enable people to integrate and thrive.

AROUK offers support and advice on housing, welfare, healthcare, schools and accessing immigration advice.

There is a Talk English club.

The Children and Families Service also runs arts and crafts for children, group activities for families, Rohingya life and cultural events and trips out during school holidays, as well as home visits for the needs of the family.

Horton Housing provides housing, training and support services.

They want volunteers now, to be befrienders for the Connecting Opportunities service.

They will be looking for more refugees and other migrants with lived experience to join the volunteer programme, when their training centre re-opens.

Help Desk

08:00 – 22:00 open Mon – Fri

08:00 – 20:00 open Sat – Sun

10:00 – 18:00 open Bank Holidays

New Directions is part of a charity called Change Grow Live. They can support you if you want to make positive changes to your drug or alcohol use. They provide information, advice, treatment and support.

Addresses
Unity Buildings, 30 Manningham Lane  BD1 3DN

or

Pelican House – see below

This NHS service is to support people who are giving unpaid support to a family member, partner or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or substance misuse problems.

Please note that our carer hub at Horton Park Medical Centre is now open for a drop in session every Monday, between 10am and 2pm.  The previous hub session at Lynfield Mount Hospital and Dyneley House, Skipton, are not currently running.

PFBA works to support parents and carers of disabled / SEN children and young people in the Bradford and Airedale area.

Bradford SENDIASS is a service for parents and carers of children and young people (0 – 25) with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). They offer information and advice mainly about educational issues. They can also advise and signpost on health and social care issues in relation to educational provision and SEND.

Peacemaker International is a charity for the advancement of conflict resolution through mediation services and training. Major emphasis is on:

• empowering women for justice by supporting survivors of domestic abuse and their children
• providing skills development, mentoring, befriending
• supporting ex-offenders and new arrivals in the UK and
• providing advocacy and promoting the rights of people with learning disabilities and social inclusion of the elderly
• campaigning to raise awareness of issues of forced marriages and female genital mutilation

Projects include :

• Home-School Mediation

• Youth Support

• Learning Disabilities Support

• Women and Children groups

• Youth Inclusion in education, employment and training

• Bradford Women against Domestic Violence

Horton Community Farm is a 2 acre green space run by locals in the heart of urban Bradford. Our work is creating an inspirational permaculture centre for food growing and community resilience through 5 main strands of work. These are environmental education such as forest schools, horticultural therapy, wildlife, food growing and volunteering.

Programmes:

Growing Hope for sanctuary seekers
Growing Together for families with 0-3’s
Mindfulness Gardening for over 50s and carers of over 50s
Volunteering for anyone over 15

See our website for more details.

This charity offers support to people in the Bradford area who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

The Housing Standards Team at Bradford Council makes sure that landlords and owners of properties in the Bradford District meet their duties relating to housing standards. These duties include safety, repairs, energy and noise. The HS Team also provides advice and support to landlords and agents, so they know what is expected of them.

The HS Team will also normally try to help tenants and landlords to sort out issues between themselves, where possible.

(formerly Leeds College of Music )

SkillsHouse is a local partnership of education and training organisations. Made up of Bradford Council’s Employment and Skills department and partners, it supports people across the Bradford District to find appropriate training and help apply for jobs.

SkillsHouse can also support young people with their post 16 options through the different options highlighted on the SkillsHouse website.

The Admissions Team process the annual allocations to Reception and Y7, in-year applications and also the appeals procedure.

They offer advice to parents and other agencies regarding all admission and appeal related enquiries.

Also, they provide advice and guidance to schools concerning current and new legislation relating to admissions and ensure that the statutory responsibilities are carried out in accordance with the School Admissions and School Appeals Code of Practice.

[email protected] (in-year and appeal queries)

[email protected] (annual allocation to secondary school queries)

[email protected] (annual allocation to primary school queries)

Formerly the New Communities and Travellers team.

What do we do?

The Access team supports families from Central and Eastern Europe, refugees, asylum seekers, travellers and vulnerable groups, with access to education.

Families can self-refer by contacting us on 01274 439393 or they can attend our drop-in, details below. Or they can be referred by any professional on behalf of the family. See below.

The service also supports and signposts its client group, taking into account the wider family support needs including SEN, Benefits and Early Help. Specialist staff in the team advocate on behalf of families who are experiencing barriers in accessing appropriate education settings. There are workers within the team who speak languages including Slovak, Polish, Czech and Hungarian but we can also access most languages through our partner, Enable2.

Interpreting and translation

For any queries relating to interpreting and translation, please email [email protected] or call 01274 439393.

Free School Meals (FSM)

The Access team only support with FSM enquiries for asylum seekers. If you have any other queries relating to FSM, please contact 01274 432772.

Refugees and asylum seekers

Refugee and asylum seeker children have the same entitlement to education as other children in the UK however they can often find it harder to access education due a number of barriers which may include language, past experience and trauma. The Access Team aim to support refugee and asylum seekers into education through practical support and advice. The Access Team is also on hand to provide advice and support  to schools who have refugee and asylum seeker children on roll. Please see our ‘Quick guide to refugees and asylum seekers’.

How to make a referral for support with access to education?

Referrals to the Access Team can be made by any professional on behalf of the family by completing the referral form and sending it to [email protected]

Please ensure that families have consented to the referral, where possible getting consent to sharing information form signed by the family prior to making a referral.

Drop-in

The Access Team runs a drop-in at Britannia House, every Tuesday morning between 9:30-11:30am during term-time. If families are being signposted to the drop-in, they are asked to attend with the children needing school places and with copies of their ID and tenancy documents.

Come and join us at our Cook and Eat session. Each week we will learn new skills about how to cook different meals. Once we have cooked we are able to sit, eat and enjoy what we have made together.

Monday’s from 3:30 – 4:30pm at the Sutton Centre

BRI is the main general hospital in Bradford. This phone number is for the central switchboard.

if you’re planning on staying for a day, a weekend break or longer, the centre will help you make the most of your visit to Bradford & district. You can contact them by email: [email protected] or through social media @VisitBradford

This venue, located off Westgate in the City’s Northern Quarter is a shopping discovery. This market offers quality fish, meat and fresh fruit and vegetables from all over the world. Lift access from our adjacent car park and shop mobility facilities means that everyone can easily access the market.

The new Darley Street Market is due to open on Darley Street BD1 3HH.

Age UK is the leading charity for older people. Age UK Bradford District can help you with information and advice about :

• benefits
• housing
• health and social care
• leisure and social activities
• family and personal matters
• your rights to local services
• ….. and most other things that affect your quality of life

You can call the Bradford number, above, during office hours:

Monday to Thursday 9.30am to 3.00pm

Friday 9.30am – 1.00pm

If you need support or information outside office hours, contact Age UK’s advice line 8am-7pm every day. Phone 0800 678 1602.

Or contact The Silver Line’s 24 hour helpline. Phone 0800 470 8090.

Pay as you feel Café based in BD4

The menu changes every day depending on what food we have available. However, it is always high quality and delicious and we always offer a choice of dishes.

Always vegetarian (and often with a vegan option), we aim to serve up at least 3 or 4 different dishes, accompanied by our self-service salad bar and with a range of delicious cakes and desserts to follow.

Fresh vegetarian meals available in Langar Hall. Please cover your head, remove shoes. Open any day if you are hungry 7:00-20:00 (before 16:00 Sundays). The most social times are Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Guidance on career paths, jobs, training and qualifications/education​
Free and impartial advice​
Strictly private and confidential​
Performed by qualified professionals

Listed below are some of the service they can provide advice for:

• Universal Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Disability Benefits
• Debt Advice
• Employment Support Allowance

01274 392896 is the number to call for the advice line.

In partnership with West Bowling Training and Advice Centre and Karmand Centre, They provide advice across the Bradford East Constituency on welfare benefits, housing, debt, immigration, employment and consumer issues.  Their Domestic Abuse Advisor supports BME women who are fleeing from or living with all forms of domestic violence.

Manningham Project is an advice service for people living in the area.

Normally, you can make a face to face appointment.

Appointments are held in the mornings 9.30 to 12.30 on Monday to Thursday.
The office closes for lunch between 12:30pm-1:30pm.

To make an appointment ring the office on Monday after 9am.
Make sure you ring on Monday as appointments will be allocated for the whole week.

You can usually get an interpreter as well.

• Benefits
• Employment
• Housing
• Immigration
• Utilities (gas, electricity and water supplies and bills)

St Stephen’s is a church in West Bowling BD5. The church itself is a welcoming place. There is also a Community Hall where SHINE West Bowling offers a wide range of community services and activities such as English CHAT, exercise, pop-up pantry, gardening club and creative threads.

Bradford District Credit Union (BDCU) provides provides low cost loans and safe savings account. They support people to save wisely and borrow affordably.

The Credit Union helps members avoid the financial exclusion and poverty that prevents them from participating fully in society. As a result people with poorer credit profiles can still access a loan. By providing regular money tips the aim is to help people that need support in order to be accepted for a loan.

The Salvation Army is a Christian charity. They offer a safe, supportive environment for individuals, helping them make positive choices about their current circumstances.

The Orchard has three separate projects : the Lifehouse; Day Shelter; Bradford Orchard corps.

The Orchard provides a drop-in service for men and women who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of becoming homeless. We support our service users in making changes and moving forward in their lives.

The Orchard Lifehouse is a “home on the way to home” for single men. We provide a safe, supportive community on the journey towards independence. Whilst there is no restriction on how long a person can reside, clients typically move on within two years.

The Bradford Orchard Corps is a Christian community which supports our service. It includes a chaplaincy for any person linked to the service

Superstore Charity Shop

This is a big charity shop that sells good value furniture and white goods, as well as clothes and smaller household items.

Opening hours

• Monday 9:30am – 4:30pm
• Tuesday 9:30am – 4:30pm
• Wednesday 9:30am – 4:30pm
• Thursday 9:30am – 4:30pm
• Friday 9:30am – 4:30pm
• Saturday 9:30am – 4:30pm
• Sunday 10:00am – 4:00pm

Check the website for information on how to donate and arrange collection

St Vincent Bradford Support Centre is a community hub in BD3, offering a range of activities and support, including :

• classes
• migrant drop-in sessions
• a superstore
• 3 charity shops
• a cafe (coming soon!)

Also, at [email protected] Vincent’s, there is a free, independent and impartial advice service, with an experienced team of advisers. To make an appointment or for more information, call us on 01274 731909 or e-mail us at [email protected]

DSA is a centre for driving tests and driving theory tests.

This shop sells clothes and accessories.

Proceeds go to Islamic Relief. The shop accepts monetary and clothing donations. There are also some volunteering opportunities.

• We work IN the community by providing extremely low cost goods to our customers, helping many who are on low wages or benefits.
• offering 4-8 week full time work placements for unemployed people of all ages, giving them a chance to work in various roles to gain as much experience as possible
• offering grants of up to £500 for charities, clubs, groups, projects, and other non for profit organisation in the Girlington, Heaton and Manningham area.

Bradford’s Darley Street Oxfam shop sells books, clothes, music and homeware. There is also a special bridal store.

The shop accepts monetary and saleable goods donations. Profits go to the Oxfam charity.

There is a well-organised volunteering scheme. To find out more, you can ask at the shop.

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is a big national charity.

It has three shops in the middle of Bradford.

The Westgate shop (01274 354975) sells furniture and electrical goods.

The Northgate shop (01274 729110) and Kirkgate shop (01274 305383) sell clothing, shoes, books, toys and homeware – nearly new and new.

BHF has a well-organised volunteer scheme. To find out more, ask at a shop.

50-54 Westgate BD1 2RD Mon – Sat 09:30 – 17:00; Sun 10:00 – 16:00

34 Northgate BD1 3SN Mon – Sat 09:30 – 17:00; Sun 10:00-16:00

47 Kirkgate BD1 1PZ Mon – Sat 09:30 – 17:00

Our vision is ‘Improving lives Incommunities’. That means providing great homes in great neighbourhoods and helping people build better lives for themselves.

We are one of the largest social housing providers in the UK and formed in 2003.  Local social housing was transferred to us, from Bradford Council.

Our main business is to provide and maintain affordable high quality housing for our neighbourhoods. We have invested over £400 million in modernising our customer homes and built over 700 homes for rent, shared ownership and outright sale.

Healthy Lifestyle Solutions CIC (HLS) is a healthy living organisation with the aim of reducing health inequalities in the population of Bradford, particularly residents of Tong Ward, South Bradford.

MyWellbeing College is a free NHS service to help people manage everyday problems such as feeling low, having problems sleeping, feeling anxious and experiencing stress. You can register for MyWellbeing College online or over the phone and don’t have to go through your GP. The only time they will be contacted is when you have finished your course to let them know, or if we are worried about you or others around you.

Women’s Club is held from 1pm to 4pm every Thursday. It is for women and their children.

The Club provides opportunities for women to socialise as well as arts and other activities. Some weeks, playworkers provide activities for children.

There are also periodic visits from BafR’s befriending co-ordinator, a representative from McKenzie Friends (see Beacon on the legal advice page), Horton Housing’s HOSTS project and other services.

English lessons

See information on the Education and Training for Adults.

Women only English classes – Free. Mondays and Tuesdays from 1pm to 3pm.

Women only knitting group – Wednesdays 9.30am.

Legal Expertise

Taxi rank

CycleBradford.org.uk is a free, accessible web site for all types of cycling related activity in the district. It’s an umbrella resource that helps guide you into Bradford’s cycling community. We provide information about most of the organisations involved in cycling in and around Bradford District.

Contact us for more information, or to get involved.

Capital of Cycling is a coalition of cycling organisations, community groups and charities.

We work to support and connect some of the fantastic cycling work, events and opportunities that are already going on in The District. Why not join us?

We have a cycling hub in the centre of Bradford, opposite City Hall, next to The Bradford Hotel.

Northcliffe Park is made up of Northcliffe Woods and Norman Rae Playing Fields. These lovely woods and fields together make up am area of countryside which appeals to many different people. From bird – or bat- watching, to playing football, beautiful Northcliffe Park has something to offer everyone.

The site has the following facilities:

• Sports Halls – Small Hall Sports Halls Bradford

See below for details, opening times and more.

The site has a car park with 3 spaces. The type of facility is listed as Local Authority. Facilities owned by the Local Authority, to include District, Borough, County and Unitary Councils.

Womenzone Community Centre is a registered charity established in 2003 to address the isolation and lack of voice and visibility of South Asian women in the Bradford 3 area.

We operate from Bradford Moor, supporting women from one of the largest BAME communities in our city. The charity was set up to respond to identify needs primarily of South Asian women for a women only safe place, to prevent them from being socially excluded and assist their fuller integration into society.

If you want to see your neighbourhood thrive and you have a cunning plan, we can help. Get in touch and let’s make it happen.

Our dedicated community development officer supports a number of forums and groups in the area including:

• Community workers Forum
• Faith Forum
• Neighbourhood Associations
• CASC’s

Whether you need instant support or want to develop a local campaign we have the networks and resources to help.

We are a vibrant community centre in Little Horton, just outside Bradford city centre.

Based in the beautiful All Saints Church opposite St Luke’s Hospital, The Landmark Centre offers a wide range of activities and training opportunities to the people of the area.

We currently run projects supporting disabled children and tackling digital exclusion, in particular helping people look for work online. Previous projects have worked with young families, refugees, and the elderly. We are an inclusive and welcoming charity which aims to improve the life chances of local people.

The Kirkgate Centre is a busy community and social action centre serving Shipley.
We are a registered charity and a registered company.

Most importantly, we are a membership organisation. Members of the Kirkgate Centre run the centre and have the power to call meetings, elect trustees and become trustees themselves. Membership is free to anyone living in the Shipley area.

Kirkgate Spotlight English Conversation Club – Every Tuesday, from 10am to 11.30am

Millan Centre is a community centre for girls and women. We run educational, social and health related activities for women, girls and children in the Manningham and Heaton area.

Millan Centre is a charitable organisation and a company limited by guarantee. The registered office is at the Centre. There are 5 members of the Management Committee who have overall responsibility for the Centre and a small team of full and part-time staff.

Millan Centre’s aim is to provide women and girls with:

• A stimulating, responsive and varied programme of educational, training and social activities in a safe and accessible environment
• Support to empower individuals to achieve their full potential and become active citizens
• Equal access to opportunities regardless of race, disability or age and a valuing of diversity
• Opportunities through partnerships with other groups and organisations

We work collaboratively with relevant partner agencies across the private, public and third sectors to ensure we provide a holistic service to our service users, which contributes to wider District objectives around community development.

The site has the following facilities:

• Sports Halls – Small Hall Sports Halls Bradford

The site has a car park with 45 spaces. The type of facility is listed as Local Authority. Facilities owned by the Local Authority, to include District, Borough, County and Unitary Councils.

The Meridian Centre is a community resource for people of all ages & backgrounds in the Manningham area of Bradford District.

This is an area of multiple deprivations. The services offered by the centre are targeted to achieve our objective of empowering the local community to participate and engage through learning and self development activities. Established in 1984, the main objectives of the centre are to develop knowledge and skills through capacity building programmes to improve economic and social participation in society. The centre is dependent on external funding and has successfully, over the last 33 years, supported local residents with a vast range of community programmes. The centre’s location and close proximity to the target audience attracts local people to the services offered.

BEAP usually offers the activities listed below.

Free Health Check Session for men

• Checking Blood Glucose
• Blood Pressure
• Weight and Height
• Advice on Healthy living

Badminton – Every Wednesday, 2pm – 3pm
(Advanced booking needed. Please contact BEAP on 01274 731020)

Summer Activities

• Summer trip
• Days out
• Visits to places of interest

Drop in day-care session for Elderly Men – Every Tuesday from 10.00am – 3.00pm

Daycare for women – Every Thursday 10.00 – 3.00 pm

• Socialise with others
• Make new friends
• Hints on healthy eating

Exercise Session for Women Over 50 – Every Thursday 11.00am – 12.30pm

Young Women’s Exercise – Every Monday 10.00am – 12.30pm

Khidmat Centres are two accessible, purpose built community centres in Bradford.

Our services are primarily for the vulnerable members of our community.

Each centre also has additional facilities you can hire for your own uses.

Welcome to your centre

we want the community to feel:

• Enabled
• Empowered
• Fulfile their potential
• make real and long lasting contribution to their communities
• transform their own lives and the lives of those around them
• Become visionaries for the future of Bradford

The West End Centre is a purpose built modern community centre based within St Oswald’s Church.

We develop the capacity and skills of the members of the socially and economically disadvantaged local community of Little Horton and the City of Bradford in such a way that they are better able to identify, and help meet their needs and participate more fully in society.

Our cafes are friendly and relaxed places for older people to get together over a cup of tea or a coffee.

This is a ‘Healthy Minds’ service specially for people who have had a cancer diagnosis.  Meditation is a technique to help you calm your mind when it is busy, and to help you deal with worries and concerns.

Discover Lishi, ancient Chinese exercises to raise your energy and become fitter, and learn a new philosophy for life at an open class in Bradford. At your first class you will be introduced to principles and exercises that have stood the test of time. They have been proven to work for both men and women for thousands of years so you can feel confident they will work for you too.

This walking group is a good way to improve your mental and physical health through exercise and meeting new people. Meet at the Prince of Wales Gate on North Park Road for a gentle walk around Lister Park.

A chance to get out of the house, have a hot, balanced meal – and not have to do the washing up! We organise regular lunch clubs to give our members the opportunity to leave the house, meet old friends and make new ones in a warm, friendly setting over nice hot meal. The meals are designed to be healthy, balanced and nutritious and catered to members’ specific needs. The service also provides transport to members who would not normally be able to travel independently so that they can join the group too.

A 12-week course in a small group which will help you identify triggers and wellness tools to help you overcome your personal mental health issues. Talk to one of our practitioners to see if it could help you by calling 01274 730815 or e-mail [email protected]. Booking required.

This walking group is a good way to improve your mental and physical health through exercise and meeting new people.

Meet at Bingley Arts Centre.

We help people with mental health challenges. We give people hope, and we help them build brighter futures. 1 in 4 of us will face a mental health problem in any given year, so whether it’s you or someone you know, we are here to help. Our services are available to people who live in Bradford, Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven.

Our mental health services:

• Pathways to Employment – for people over 18, who are out of work with moderate to severe, and/or enduring mental health problems who want to work towards a specific goal such as education, training, voluntary or paid work.
• Workplace Wellbeing – free, specialist support group for people managing their mental health at work.
• Work retention – for people over 18, who are in work but on sick leave who need support to return to work.
• Crisis support – for people over 18, who are in severe mental distress or crisis. Open 365 days a year from 10am – 6pm.
• Telehealth – for guided self-help telephone appointments, you can register online at www.bmywellbeingcollege.nhs.uk or give the enrolment team a call on 0300 555 5551.

Roshni Ghar is a mental health community development organisation based in Keighley. The organisations offers culturally sensitive mental health and wellbeing support to adult south Asian women and BME young women diagnosed with mental ill health; offering 1:1 emotional support, as well as group support (in-house and in community settings, including schools). Roshni Ghar offers holistic services ranging from recovery, early intervention, relapse prevention to Peer led support. The organisations also supports women with long-term health conditions and addresses contributing factors to mental ill health. Food and period poverty are also addressed with appropriate provision available to meet their needs. Self Care and well-being are key aspects of the work done at Roshni Ghar. Women with severe and complex mental ill health are also supported, both in acute and community settings, as well as at home, via home visits. Therapeutic and creative support is offered to further aid recovery and to help women build a support network for themselves.

Displace Yourself Theatre provide and facilitate free arts activities in Bradford, particularly beneficial for those who have experience of social exclusion and those who may not usually have access to the arts.

DYT are also a professional touring Theatre Company who make work which aims to promote social equality.

Bradford Interchange is a transport interchange in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, which consists of a railway station and combined bus and coach station adjacent. It is served by the majority of bus services in the city centre along with National Express Coaches, while the railway station, which is one of two in the city centre (along with Bradford Forster Square), is served by Northern and is also the terminus for Grand Centralservices from London King’s Cross.

• Support for asylum seekers and refugees
• ESOL classes
• British way of life classes
• Free furniture bank
• Free clothing bank
• Gardening and keeping

We offer a trauma informed counselling and support service for male survivors of childhood sexual abuse and adult rape.

We are based in Bradford but our service is available to anyone living in West Yorkshire.

More details are available on the Survivors West Yorkshire website.

The Volunteer Centres in Bradford and Keighley work to promote volunteering and to support local voluntary and community organisations across the District.

Volunteer Centres are a good place to start looking for volunteering opportunities in the local area. We do this by supporting people to identify volunteer roles that suit their skills and experience and matching them with potential roles with Voluntary and Community Organisations and other not-for-profit groups, to support the crucial work they do in the District. If you can spare an hour a month, or more, then get in touch and see if you can volunteer your time or skills to help one of these organisations.

We also provide infrastructure support to any group that needs help to recruit volunteers, we promote good practice, support the development of quality volunteer roles and work to ensure that volunteering is inclusive and accessible to all.

Together Women is a charity offering a gender-specific service to women. We have locations in Bradford and Leeds which both cater for refugees and all of our services are free of charge. Clients can be referred in or call the number to refer themselves.

We offer:

• legal advice in immigration law and family law
• food vouchers
• pay as you feel market (full week’s worth of shopping for minimum donation of £1)
• Freedom (domestic abuse recovery group)
• counselling
• confidence and self-esteem group
• Peace of Mind (IAPTs)
• Job Centre Plus sessions
• anger management
• SMART Recovery addictions group
• VIBE (young women 12 to 19 years)
• Arts and crafts social groups
• English for speakers of other languages

Hope for Justice is an anti-human trafficking organisation working to uncover and abolish the hidden crime of modern-day slavery. As a non-governmental organisation (NGO) we gather intelligence and assist in the process of removing victims from exploitation within the UK.

Human trafficking is not someone else’s problem, it’s happening in our communities, in our neighbourhoods, in our country. Hope for Justice was created to be the practical solution to human trafficking with four areas of operation:

• investigate and rescue
• assist aftercare
• perpetrator accountability
• campaign

Services in Bradford:

Bradford Homeless Partnership
Temporary and emergency accommodation for people in the Bradford District who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Bradford Respite and Integrated Care and Support Service (BRICSS)
A home from hospital service for people who are homeless or inadequately housed.

Community Support Agency
Support at home for people experiencing mental health problems

Connecting Opportunities
Working with new migrants to develop skills and opportunities to find work and be part of the local community

Co-ordinated Advice Support Tenancy Ready Service (CASTRS)
A drop-in service to help with applying for benefits, form-filling, searching for jobs and training.

Group Living Services
Accommodation for young people and care leavers, including unaccompanied asylum seekers, aged between 16 and 18 years old.

Intensive Housing Management (Bradford)
Accommodation in Bradford, Shipley and Keighley for people who have support needs and may find it difficult to access mainstream housing.

New Communities
A partnership approach to provide housing, healthcare and wrap-around support to help refugees settle into their new life in the UK.

NewStart
Supported accommodation and support at home for high risk male offenders and ex-offenders aged 16 and over who have a high degree of housing need and are at risk of re-offending.

STAY at Home (Bradford)
Housing-related support for people with multiple or complex needs who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless in Bradford.

STAY at Home (Keighley)
Housing-related support for people with multiple or complex needs who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless in Keighley.

STAY in Boldshay / Assisi
Accommodation and housing-related support for people with multiple or complex needs who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless in Bradford, Shipley and Keighley.

STAY in Grattan
Accommodation and housing-related support for people with multiple or complex needs who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless in Bradford, Shipley and Keighley.

STAY in Millhaven
Accommodation and housing-related support for people with multiple or complex needs who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless in Bradford and Shipley. Our hostel in Bradford is for women only.

A safe, friendly, accessible community space close to Bradford City Centre, for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people.

We work to influence the policies and practices of agencies and organisations to ensure equality for all LGBT people.

We have :

• groups for younger and older people, women-only groups, men-only groups, BME groups and Trans groups
• short term programmes and activities
• a weekly group offering peer support for LGBT refugees and asylum seekers
• a Hate Crime Reporting Centre
• sessions for health and wellbeing
• monthly newsletters sent out to all members
• training
• consultancy
• centre/room hire

CRC is a community-led peace and conflict resolution training centre. It is based in Bradford to serve all communities of Bradford District, mainly the Refugee Communities, but also, through the Internet, all communities’ victims of conflict around the world.

City of Sanctuary is a national movement to build a culture of hospitality for people seeking sanctuary in the UK. Its goal is to create a network of towns and cities throughout the UK which are proud to be places of safety, and which include people seeking sanctuary fully in the life of their communities. A ‘City of Sanctuary’ is a place where a broad range of local organisations, community groups and faith communities, as well as local government, are publicly committed to welcoming and including people seeking sanctuary.

In Bradford our Schools and Colleges of Sanctuary project works with local schools to ensure that they are best able to support asylum seeker and refugee pupils and raise understanding and awareness among pupils, staff and their wider networks. We also run regular events, engage with the Council and its partners to improve services for those seeking sanctuary, and work with local media to get accurate and positive coverage of asylum issues.

Schools and Colleges of Sanctuary Project: [email protected], Telephone: 07380 671998

During the Corona virus pandemic we are continuing to provide telephone and on-line support. (We have had to stop face to face work at our Centre, just for now.)

We offer free, one-to-one counselling for women and girls who live in the Bradford area. You can self-refer to our counselling service or be referred by other organisations and agencies, such as your GP or support worker. Counselling can give you some time and space where you can think, reflect and talk things through.

It takes a lot of courage to come for counselling and it’s not always easy to talk about your thoughts and feelings. You don’t have to talk about anything that you are not ready to talk about. Your counsellor will not judge you or tell you what to do. She will help you to try to make sense of what has happened to you and to recognise what you need to move forward.

We have a counselling service by Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) counsellors for BAME women and young women. Jyoti counsellors speak Punjabi, Urdu and Mir Puri. We always use interpreters when needed so you can use the service, whatever language you speak.

Join this friendly peer-led group and explore your inner world, increase self-awareness and discover solutions to the challenges you face, using the power of language. Open to all who have registered with Mind in Bradford’s wellbeing service.

Download Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Online Booklet. Mind’s guide to Seasonal Affective Disorder, known as SAD.

We support people in Bradford to have their say about the things that matter to them. Our team will support you to be heard, to understand your rights, choices and options, and to make your own decisions. This service provides IMHA for people who need support with their rights under the mental health act. Please contact us for more details.

We are an NHS primary care multi-disciplinary team which includes Mental Health Practitioners, Nurses, a Psychological Therapist and Support Worker. We are an outreach team offering a range of support and services to those in need, including:

• mental health support
• signposting
• TB education and awareness
• Latent TB testing
• Household assessments
• Psychological therapy
• Linking in with other services
• Advocacy

We see those who are homeless, at risk of homelessness or living in unsecure tenure and are experiencing mental health difficulties, and asylum seekers in need of signposting and/or experiencing mental health difficulties.

We accept self-referrals, referrals from voluntary organisations and referrals from GP practices.

Sharing Voices Bradford is a community development mental health organisation and primarily works within the inner city areas of Bradford, comprising over 50% of Black Minority Ethnic Communities

Sharing Voices promotes self-help and mutual support, through community development. Groups are a large part of helping members to develop collective action.

Participation in activities of their own choice including fitness, music and faith groups as well as activities around art and which are gender specific.

Bradford Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Survivors Service

Supporting women and girls who have experienced sexual violence at any time in their lives.

We are still able to offer a range of support:

• This website has a section linking to on-line services
• Here are some useful self-help resources
• We are continuing to provide support to our existing service users
• We welcome both new and existing callers to our helpline

Please contact us for support. You are not alone.

Dr Hayley Rees, Specialist GP: [email protected]

Helen Phelan, Pathway Nurse: 07587 165570

Free2Bme LGBT Group meets every second and fourth Wednesday of the month at BCB Radio, 11 Rawson Road, Bradford BD1 3SH.

We also have a long established community hub page, Free2Bme LGBT community on Facebook, where we have a flourishing LGBT Asylum and Immigration group.

Equity Rainbow Bradford is a peer support group for LGBT refugees, asylum seekers and all migrants. You can meet new friends and support each other, while going through the same experiences. The group meets weekly.

When is it?

Wednesdays, from 10am to 11.30am

When is it?

Wednesdays from 1pm to 2.30pm

Lunch is available on Fridays from midday to 1pm, for anyone who has been to a class at Hope House during the week (in normal non-Covid times).

CAP job club, with help from trained volunteers, in a relaxed environment, with the chance to meet other jobseekers, get support and gain the tools needed to find work. Mondays from 9.30am to 12.30pm. (Contact Corinne on 07709 683650)

This is a friendly English Conversation group that meets every week.

All new migrants welcome.

You can relax, have a coffee, make friends, practise and improve your spoken English. And you can learn more about the English way of life. There is a lot of fun too – and sometimes there are trips out together. Because there are plenty of English volunteers, you can chat 1 to 1, or in small groups with an English speaker and other students at the same level as you. It really helps.

Usually, the group meets in the Touchstone building  – Weds 10:00-12:00.

Bevan Wellbeing Centre provides a wide range of non-medical services for patients to improve their health and well-being, and to lead more fulfilled lives.

Covid Update – some services are online or by phone, just for now.

There is a Social Prescribing Service, for people who feel they need some extra support to improve their emotional health and wellbeing.

There is also Bumps and Babies for refugee and asylum seeker women who are pregnant or have children under 2 years.  A great place for friendship and support.

Other activities include :

• The Craft Room
• Health Trainers
• Advice Drop In
• Homework Club
• Men’s Woodwork
• ESOL Pre-entry level
• Living Well Group
• Toast, tea and chat
• Cannabis Spice and Legal Highs Group

Free conversational English practice with English speakers, from 1pm to 2.30pm every Thursday during term time at the St Clements Church, Barkerend Road, BD3 9DF.

Our English club has been running successfully since March 2010, seeing many people improving their English, and some even speaking English for the first time! All welcome.

Everyday English Club – Every Thursday during term time, 1pm to 2.30pm. Open to all levels, everyone welcome – a free English conversation club with English speakers. Parents with pre-school children welcome

English My Way – Every Friday 10am to midday. Aimed at pre-entry level learners, women only, free. A fresh approach to learning ESOL (English as a Second Language). Women with pre-school children welcome.

Opening times

• Drop-in: Mondays and Tuesdays, 11am to 1pm
• other times by appointment

Are you appealing against your asylum decision, or wanting to re-engage with the asylum system ?  And do you not have access to legal representation ?

McKenzie Friends are trained volunteers who can give you moral support and informed help.

Office hours

Monday to Friday: 9.15am to 5.30pm

Freeths have recently recruited a team of four new immigration law specialists, all from Simpson Millar LLP. Please call the number below.

Fisher Stone Solicitors specialises in all areas of immigration and asylum law. Based in West Yorkshire but available to clients throughout the UK.

Citizens Advice Bradford & Airedale and Bradford Law Centre gives free advice to people in the Bradford District (including Shipley and Keighley) on many big issues that affect people’s lives.  They also campaign on important social policy issues, and they influence law policy and practice.  They aim to combat social exclusion.

You may have money, benefit, housing or employment problems  You may be facing a crisis, or you may be just thinking about what your options are.  General advice can be given.  You can also get some free legal advice on these areas of law :

• asylum
• debt
• employment
• welfare benefits
• immigration

Specialist legal advice on housing issues 01274 758 030

EUSS applications, help and support

[email protected] Vincent’s are still operating advice services over the telephone. All drop in provision has been temporarily suspended. To contact the team please call the number below.

Volunteering Information
0113 248 4126
[email protected]

Free clothing and things for the house for asylum seekers and refugees in Bradford.

We are still offering clothing, footwear and things for the house to asylum seekers and refugees in Bradford, but we have had to make adjustments due to lockdown.

Do you need something ?

Please send a message (WhatsApp / Signal / SMS) to ask for what you need. We will bring you as much as we can of the things you ask for.

Would you like to offer something ?

We are still collecting/accepting donations.  Please contact us in advance to check if we have space/requests for what you want to offer. Please phone / WhatsApp / Signal / SMS.

The Gianna Baby Bank ‘Plus’ is run by Catholic Care.

We can offer baby equipment such as baby clothes, nappies, toiletries, prams, and Moses baskets to pregnant mums and their new-born babies.

Our experienced and friendly team are also available to carry out home visits and offer emotional support to some of our families. We aim to support the family until the baby reaches their first birthday.

After Covid, when is the store open?

Monday to Friday, 10am to 3pm, term time only

Open on other days with prior notice.

The Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a free book giving scheme.  Each month until a child is four, a new book is delivered through the post. For parents / carers of all children born after 1 January 2016, living in the Better Start area. Please click the website below and search your post code for the nearest Library.

Talking Together is for parents of two to three year olds who have mild to moderate difficulties in speaking. It aims to give families the skills to improve their child’s communication, to develop an understanding of the importance of play in developing communication, and to give parents the skills and confidence to be actively involved in their child’s play and learning.

There are one-to-one sessions, lasting for one hour, for six weeks, in the child’s home. The sessions can be in English, Urdu or Punjabi. Please call the Number below for more details.

HENRY offer a free eight week group programme for parents and carers of babies and young children to support the whole family to develop a healthy lifestyle.

Group programmes are held in Children’s Centres across the Bradford district. One to one support and starting solids information is also available in some areas.

Emotional support for parents suffering low to moderate levels of perinatal mental illness, for up to a year after the birth. The support is delivered by Family Action peer support volunteers, mostly in parents’ homes.

Better Start Bradford runs several projects for families with young children and is keen to encourage participation by asylum seeker and refugee families. If you would like to know more or would like to talk about a particular project, please contact Sally Teasdale at [email protected] or on 07494 558337

Most of the projects run only in the Better Start areas – broadly Little Horton, Bowling and Barkerend and Bradford Moor – but some are available throughout the Bradford area. To find out whether a particular address is in a Better Start area use the Better Start Bradford postcode checker. All sessions and classes are free.

Free ESOL+ classes for pregnant women

These classes are for pregnant women who would otherwise need an interpreter for antenatal appointments and during the birth of their child.

The classes are for two hours, once a week for five weeks.

Baby Basics provides a Moses basket packed with toiletries, nappies, blankets, towels and baby clothes. It is available to vulnerable families including teenage mothers, asylum seekers and women fleeing domestic violence or trafficking. There is more information on the Baby Basics website.

Two female and five male bed spaces available for those with no recourse to public funds.

Connecting Opportunities is still running and is open to new referrals during the Coronavirus/Covid-19 outbreak. All services for participants are being offered remotely. Existing participants should speak to their Keyworker to discuss specific arrangements.

We work with new migrants to develop their skills and opportunities to find work and be part of the local community, in West Yorkshire and parts of North Yorkshire. Connecting Opportunities [CO] helps with:

• developing the skills needed to gain employment in the UK
• improving English
• feeling part of the community
• increasing confidence and well-being

Support for those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless

DISC’s Bradford No Second Night Out scheme supports anyone who’s:

• Homeless or at risk of becoming Homeless, and
• Over the age of 18.

Discovery House provides short term emergency accommodation in circumstances where an immediate housing solution cannot be provided. We provide:

• 8 rooms for clients who have slept rough for less than six months, 2 rooms for ‘entrenched’ rough sleepers
• 7 beds for clients with no recourse to public funds (2 beds dedicated for females)
• An additional 10 ‘sit-up’ spaces during cold weather
• 24/7 staffed, supported accommodation, every night of the year.

We are committed to ensuring accessibility to our service and can receive referrals by phone, fax, online, in person or through the national ‘Streetlink’ service.

The service responds to referrals within 24 hours and ensures a rapid response to the support needs of the individual.

Humankind works together with other local providers and Bradford City Council to deliver this service.

Online Form

My Bright Kite is a grassroots organisation offering youth projects in partnership with schools and community groups, to support the wellbeing and inclusion of young refugees in Leeds and Bradford.

How to contact our Services

We currently do not have a physical office in Bradford, but we are in the process of securing a new office soon. Until we move into a new office we will be operating on hybrid model, which is working remotely as well as doing outreach sessions in various community venues. We have a single point of referral pathway to all our services in Bradford and all new referrals will be assessed by a duty caseworker who will decide which project/s is appropriate to support you based your needs as well as sign post you to other services when it is possible.

Email: [email protected]

Duty Phone: On Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 9:45am and 1pm, call us on 07703608969.

Please contact us to refer yourself or someone else to any of our services. We will always endeavour to reply promptly.

Children & Family Service

The Children and Families Service offers one to one support as wells group activities for refugee and asylum seekers families as they arrive in Bradford.  

Our Children & Families Project is now split into the following three sub projects closely working together: 

Families Early Help project – this project offers specialist casework support to asylum seeking families where they have additional needs that aren’t being met by universal services (such as Migrant Help, Accommodation Providers, Schools or Health Providers) and require additional support under the Local Authority Early Help Framework.  

Asylum Crisis project – this project supports asylum seeking families with children who might need assistance in accessing housing and financial support mainly from the Home Office while trying to work with other agencies to meet the families’ other needs.   

The BRAVE Project: is an expert by experience led project focusing on integration and wellbeing activities for asylum seekers in Bradford. This is for all service users at Refugee Action, but with a specific focus on families.  r yourself or someone else to any of our services. We will always endeavour to reply promptly.

Advice and Wellbeing Services

Advice and Wellbeing is a service delivered in partnership with Solace. Refugee Action provides specialist OISC immigration advice to asylum seekers, refused asylum seekers and refugees in combination with wellbeing support from Solace. We also provide signposting and referral support to help prevent mental health crises from developing. 

We provide:

• Advice and advocacy support to resolve or assist with immigration and practical issues which are causing increased stress or exacerbating trauma symptoms. 
• Immigration advice and casework support for complex cases for refused asylum seekers and refugees to assist those who are destitute or at risk of destitution. This includes, some fresh claims on protection or family life grounds where legal aid is not available, leave to remain applications for refused asylum seekers on family grounds prioritising cases involving children, complex domestic violence cases who are unable to access legal aid and other complex cases where there are additional vulnerabilities for asylum seekers, refused asylum seekers and refugees (please contact us if in doubt)
• A combination of one to one therapy for refugees and asylum seekers suffering from trauma symptoms (delivered by Solace)
• A weekly wellbeing group for those with lower levels of need, or who need supplementary input in addition to one to one support.   This group focuses on stress management techniques. (Delivered by Solace & Refugee Action) 

Destitution Project: housing in Bradford for asylum seekers made homeless by negative asylum decisions. Contact: 07908 364112; [email protected]

Refugee Housing Project: Temporary accommodation, currently only in Leeds, for those with leave to remain whose Home Office support has just ended, and then help in finding suitable longer-term accommodation. Contact: 07743 189314; [email protected]

Volunteering Project: St Clair Brown; [email protected]

We are not recruiting any more volunteers at present.