100 young people from Bradford head to Coventry
Some 100 young people from across Bradford District embarked on a cultural excursion to Coventry this weekend to spend 24 hours immersed in the current UK City of Culture.
The young people, aged 15–20 years, gathered at City Park on Saturday morning for a celebratory send-off before setting off down to Coventry for an overnight stay.
The delegation come from across Bradford District and included representatives from Bradford’s UNICEF Child Rights Youth Work Trainees; the city’s Young COVID Ambassadors and those benefitting from Bradford’s Kick Start training scheme, which is helping young people affected by the economic impacts of COVID-19 by funding new job roles; and JU:MP Leads, a sports, activities and leadership programme for people aged 16–25. Bradford Youth Team also sent an open call on social media for young people to come forward to take part in the trip. They were accompanied by members of the Bradford 2025 team, including Bradford 2025 Chair Shanaz Gulzar.
The young people experienced a packed itinerary with visits to some of Coventry’s signature UK City of Culture events – including artist Daniel Lismore’s Be Yourself; Everyone Else Is Already Taken exhibition at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum; and Where There Is Light, an immersive sound and light installation at Coventry Cathedral. They also met some of the young people involved in the Coventry bid and shared ideas on what a UK City of Culture year could look like in Bradford.
The trip was organised and run by the Bradford Youth Service in partnership with Bradford 2025.
Photograph: Karol Wyszynski