Funding for Young People in Bradford to Explore and Celebrate Local history
Historic England has announced new funding for 4 creative youth-led projects in Bradford in collaboration with Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.
The History in the Making programme empowers under-represented young people to explore and celebrate their local hidden histories, finding original ways to commemorate them.
The programme aims to improve young people’s wellbeing, from increasing connection to and pride in their local place, to gaining skills and social confidence.
The 4 projects in Bradford are all part of the 2025 UK City of Culture, a year-long celebration, which will showcase the rich history of the city and district and spotlight its dynamic contemporary culture in all forms. 21 projects are being supported across England.
After taking part in previous History in the Making projects (in 2023/24), young people felt more confident, developed new skills and learned something new about their local area. They also met new people and 93% felt motivated to take part in more activities in their local community.
21 grants of up to £15,000, a total of £261,000, will fund projects over the 18 months starting in January 2025.
These new projects will provide new opportunities for young people to discover, engage and connect with their local stories and ensure the history that matters to them is remembered.
Using different art forms, from murals and artworks to immersive walking trails and theatre productions, young people will decide who and what to celebrate and how best to do it.
Bradford's History in the Making projects
Manningham Heritage Project
- Led by BEAP Community Partnership
In this project, young people will explore local Bangladeshi heritage. They’ll work with local artists and craftspeople to create place markers that incorporate elements of Bangladeshi culture, art, language and traditions.
Summat Creative
- Led by Summat Creative CIC
This project focusses on the overlooked history of people with learning disabilities who worked in Bradford’s mills in the 19th and early 20th century. After historical research and creative exploration, young people with learning disabilities will help create a model of a mill and fill it with their own creative responses to the stories they have unearthed.
Shipley Glen Tramway accessible place marker
- Led by Moor Time
Young people with additional needs from across the Bradford district will explore the social history around the oldest cable tramway in Britain. Their findings will create a fully accessible, multi-sensory place marker to celebrate these histories.
Shared Stories
- Led by Allstar Ents
Shared Stories will celebrate musical and cultural histories across the Bradford district. Young people will conduct interviews and research before creating their own musical and audio responses. These new works will be shared via QR codes around the local area.
This government recognises that whilst passion is everywhere, opportunity is not, and we are committed to providing young people with equal chances to develop their skills, regardless of background.
I am thrilled that Historic England’s History in the Making programme will fund these important projects, to enrich the lives of young people, develop their confidence and unearth history to shape their future. It's also fantastic to see successful projects in Bradford ahead of their year as UK City of Culture in 2025.
These new History in the Making projects will reveal fascinating new perspectives and explore forgotten local histories. I’m thrilled to see four very different projects across Bradford district, all with an emphasis on creativity and local identity.
The 4 projects being developed across Bradford District celebrate and reflect less frequently heard stories of Bradford in surprising ways. In making them with young people in Bradford, they will deepen their connection to the place they call home, seeing themselves and their heritage on the streets where they live.
This funding will enable our young people an amazing opportunity to affect how we remember and celebrate our history. I am sure they will challenge and excite us with their creative approaches, and I look forward to seeing their work showcased during our UK City of Culture year.
As a Historic England Young Adviser, I found it incredibly inspiring to see the range of opportunities being created for young people in heritage. It was so exciting to play a small part in shaping how other young people can engage with Bradford 2025.
I’m immensely proud to have been part of the decision-making process to fund projects that empower young people to embrace their creative agency, amplify their unique voices, and explore their nuanced relationships with local history.
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