Community researchers programme will leave City of Culture legacy 

The project, which was developed by Professor Joanna Sofaer and Professor Kath Woods-Townsend at the University of Southampton (arising from their Young Researchers Training Programme, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council), comprised a 12-week training course run on campus on Wednesday evenings.  

Professor Croucher, said: “Our motivation was both to evaluate the impact of City of Culture and leave a legacy that will embed research skills in the community. The University is a strategic partner of City of Culture, we were heavily involved in the successful bid process and we are passionate about extending some of those cultural benefits beyond 2025, into 2026, when we will be marking the University’s 60th anniversary, and beyond." 

Shazia Bibi, pictured above, is an independent arts producer and project manager. She has delivered projects across Yorkshire and the Northwest collaborating with visual artists, dancers, actors, filmmakers and theatre companies. 

Shazia is a community connector for Bradford West for Bradford 2025 as well as currently working with Northern Broadsides in Halifax producing an anthology focusing on the experiences of refugees and asylum seekers. 

She said: “It was insightful being part of the Community Researchers Programme, where I had the opportunity to teach and support community research trainees. This role allowed me to further my teaching skills and create impact with a team of community researchers who came from different backgrounds and ages. It was rewarding to see the trainees grow and take ownership of their learning and research." 

Dan Bates, Executive Director of Bradford 2025 (pictured above, far left), said: “It’s vital we show the Government the power culture has to help change lives and change people’s perceptions.”

“Bringing more opportunities for people who want to get involved in arts and cultural activities to gain new skills, discover new experiences and share them with others has always been a key aim of our UK City of Culture legacy – and this is just one example of this in action."

Professor Sherif El-Khamisy, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation, added: “At the University of Bradford, our research is not just confined to the world of academia. We live, breathe and serve the community we live in and this is the essence of this programme. That investment is a legacy of the UK City of Culture that provides skills for the community. We will continue to invest in the legacy. Thank-you for making the difference and to all those completing this course.” 

The project was made possible through the collaboration between the Universities of Southampton, University of Bradford, the Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture, the dedication of the City of Culture Evaluation Team, especially Matthew Maslen and Amber Hollis, and the volunteer trainers and researchers. 

Get involved 

3,500 volunteers will be a part of Bradford 2025, representing the district, spotlighting everything Bradford has to offer and helping deliver an unforgettable 12 months of culture, and you can be a part of it. Benefits include gaining new skills and confidence and meeting new people, not to mention being able to list the experience on your CV.

Sign up 

The next Community Research Training Programme is being planned. To register an interest, please email [email protected] 

Different is what we do 

The University of Bradford has launched a national campaign to show how it makes a difference to its students, staff and the wider community, through its innovative approach to wellbeing, teaching and disruptive research across a broad range of subjects, from archaeology to artificial intelligence.