Free tickets for people with long-term mental health challenges
Thanks to a partnership with Bradford District and Craven MIND and Healthy Minds, Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture is offering free tickets and creative trips for people living with long-term mental health challenges.
Fancy a change of scene? Something fresh and uplifting? A chance to declutter the mind and build confidence?
If you live in Bradford or Craven, why not come and join us for theatre, music, exhibitions, crafting, comedy, family happenings, outdoor spectacles or walks.
It can be tough sometimes to even think about leaving our homes, let alone go to an event – and yet it can be so rewarding. Our Mental Health Engagement Lead, Sara, is here to support you. She’ll help with transport, refreshments and we promise a warm welcome.
See all upcoming events listed below and complete this form to register your interest to attend one or more events.
Questions? Call or text Sara on 07494 642710, or email her on [email protected] – she is ready to help you.
Key information
- You can request tickets as an individual or as a group for any of the events listed below.
- You may want to attend alone, or with a trusted companion.
- For family events, children are welcome to come for free too.
- Support workers are welcome to request tickets for individuals or groups and attend too.
- Quiet spaces are available at most events if you need time out.
- Places are available on a first come first served basis so do book soon!
- See more information in the FAQs below.
Elmet
Theatre
23 or 29 October, 7.30pm
Loading Bay (City Centre venue near Forster Square station), 14+
Elmet is a gutsy story of family, revenge and the ultimate price of freedom – set in the wilds of the West Riding. This stage adaptation of Fiona Mozley’s Booker Prize shortlisted novel bursts to life with grit, guts and new music from BBC Folk Award-winning The Unthanks. Take your seats as this powerful production builds to a jaw dropping showdown finale.
REPLAY
Family event at Damart Mill in Bingley
A magical, soft play experience for families with children from 6 months to 11 years.
- Thursday 23 October 11.45am – 12.45pm for adults with children aged 6 months to 5 years
- Half term: Wednesday 29 October 1.30pm – 2.30pm for adults with children aged 6 months to 11 years
- Friday 28 November 11.45am – 12.45pm for adults with children aged 6 months to 5 years
Part adventure playground, REPLAY is a space built entirely out of waste materials repurposed for fun! Children and their grown-ups are invited to play side by side in this space full of things you can move, change, combine, wear and reimagine. Suitable for ages 6 months to 5 years. For the half term session this age has been extended to 11 years.
These Replay sessions are ringfenced only for the Mental Health Engagement Project and won’t be open to the general public. Each session can accommodate 10-50 people (adults and children) in total and are be followed by free tea and cake in a screened off space in the lovely cafe. Families can sign up or be referred, or organisations can bring a group.
We Are Still ASAFO
Theatre
7 November, 7.30pm
Loading Bay (City Centre venue near Forster Square station)
A theatre performance with live music and dance, that reminds us we are never truly alone. Come with us, as we cross oceans and generations, and call on the wisdom of our ancestors to help unearth our ASAFO (warrior) spirit. Meet three characters, living in Bradford, Ghana, and Jamaica; each is facing loss, each standing at a crossroads. As they navigate grief and upheaval, they are guided by ancestral voices that refuse to be silenced – voices that carry memory, courage, and direction through turbulent times.
Turner Prize 2025
Exhibition and workshop
7, 26, 27 November or 5 December, 12.30pm – 4pm
Cartwright Hall in Lister Park, adults only
The world’s most exciting visual arts prize has come to Bradford for the first time. Join us for a welcome lunch and a private tour of the galleries, followed by a gentle and accessible artist led workshop for all abilities. The workshop is for a maximum of 20 adults in total. A quiet space will be available for anyone who may need it. More dates to be added. If you would like to bring a group on a speciifc date sign up and we can discuss options.
BD: is LIT
Outdoor event
8 November, 5pm – 9pm
City Park, all ages welcome
Bradford’s city centre will be transformed by a collection of dazzling light installations and performances by local, national and international artists as we explore the Colour of Light. Exclusively we are offering a colour workshop and food at City of Culture offices for people who book through this scheme.
Loaded Laughs
Comedy
14 November, 8pm
Loading Bay (City Centre venue near Forster Square station), 16+
Bradford’s freshest comedy night brings the best new voices in stand-up to the heart of the city.
Urooj Ashfaq: How To Be A Baddie
Comedy
28 November, 7.30pm
Loading Bay (City Centre venue near Forster Square station), 14+
Edinburgh Comedy Awards Best Newcomer Urooj Ashfaq is back, but this time she’s different. No longer is she a good girl and a relatable comedian. Most importantly, she is not sweet. Now she’s a bona fide bad girl and edgelord who at times mentions sexy things and topics. Come and watch her to find out what’s happened, as ne of India’s most exciting comics, heads out on her second UK tour.
Built By Sound
Mixed reality experience
2 December, 2pm or 6pm
Loading Bay (City Centre venue near Forster Square station), 14+
Take an immersive trip through British South Asian youth culture in the 70s and 80s. Whether you lived it, or it’s the first time you’re hearing it – this is your invitation in.
Archival footage, personal testimonies and a stirring soundtrack will recreate a momentous era for South Asian communities in the UK – and particularly in Bradford, when people found joy in defiance, in community and in music – from the thump of dhol drums in community halls to pirate radio buzzing through bedroom walls. For anyone who’s ever felt unheard – and turned the volume up anyway. Come for the bass. Stay for the truth.
In this hour long experience you’ll be wearing a virtual reality headset and headphones, but will at times still be able to see your surroundings and the different rooms you’ll travel through. Questions? See our FAQs.
EGGS COLLECTIVE’S DARK NIGHTS
Comedy
12 December, 7.30pm
Loading Bay (City Centre venue near Forster Square station), 18+
Set your clocks: the female-led performance collective mark the Equinox… It’s time to celebrate the days getting shorter, the nights getting wilder and the humour getting darker. But don’t worry – Eggs Collective promise to hold your hand. This comedic trio will be joined by some of their freakiest friends to light up the dark!
Brighter Still
Outdoor performance
21 December, 4pm
Myrtle Park in Bingley, all ages welcome
The finale! Join us on the longest night of the year for our big closing event – and look ahead to a brilliant Bradford future together. Starring hundreds of people from across our district, it’s a celebration of who we are, where we live and the ties that bind us together – and everyone’s invited.
Bradford on Foot
Walks
January – March, daytime
Adults and family sessions available
Choose an easy (1.5 miles) or moderate (3-4 miles) walk in rural Bradford followed by tea and cake and a nature based creative workshop for a small group. Timings will usually be 10.30am – 2pm but be can be flexible. Sign up and we can look at dates together.
Frequently asked questions
You can call or text Sara on 07494 642710, or email [email protected].
Who is this opportunity for?
This offer is for people with living with long-term mental health challenges, and the people who support them. See below * if you would like a detailed definition.
Can I come alone, or with a trusted companion?
If you are a person living with a mental health challenge and you would like to come independently, you are welcome to. We can meet you at the event and provide a warm welcome if helpful.
Or you can bring a trusted companion along be that support staff, relative, friend or carer. You will both receive a free ticket.
How do I get my tickets?
We can send them to you in advance, or give them to you at the event. Together we can work out what is most useful.
Is there help to cover transport costs?
Where needed, transport will be paid for by Bradford 2025, either by reimbursing your out-of-pocket expenses or in some cases booked directly by Bradford 2025. This could be by bus, train, mini-bus or taxi. We will work together to agree the best option.
Is it possible to get help with refreshments?
Yes. If the event falls over a lunch or dinner time and you have no resource for this we can help arrange food and cover costs. This includes soft drinks.
Are the events in the daytime or evening?
Both. Many events do take place in the evening and weekends but there are several that are in working hours during the working week. See the event listings in the link below.
Are there family focussed events? Can I bring my family?
Yes. We’ve highlighted events that are open to all ages in the link below.
Children of people living with long-term mental health challenges are welcome to free tickets too.
I want to bring a group of people, what do I need to consider?
You can bring 2-10 people to any event (unless otherwise specified). This number includes everyone attending (i.e. support staff, relative, friend or carer).
Please choose a member of your team to take on the role of ‘Trip Co-ordinator’. They will attend the event and liaise with Sara from Bradford 2025 to co-organise the trip and answer any questions you have. You know the people you support and what will help them have a successful trip. We will work with you to make sure their needs are carefully considered and create a basic risk assessment.
We appreciate you providing us with feedback after the trip has ended.
What events and activities can we come to?
Upcoming events are advertised on this page.
If you see or hear of events listed here that you or the people you support would love, let’s talk (contact Sara on 07494642710 / [email protected]) You can find out about all events on our what’s on page.
What do you mean by ‘long-term mental health condition’ * ?
- A person living with a life-long mental health condition will find that their ability to consistently function in daily life, maintain work, relationships and self-care can be a struggle. Living with a long-term mental health challenge is a very individual experience and affects people in very different ways.
- Some people will have been clinically diagnosed, and others won’t.
- People who have been diagnosed with long-term mental health conditions include those with Psychosis, Bipolar affective disorder, Schizophrenia, major depressive disorders, trauma or severe anxiety such as Post Traumatic Stress or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
- This offer is also for people who haven’t been diagnosed but have been living with life-limiting mental health challenges nonetheless. Many of us can be reluctant to seek help because of the stigma around mental illness. Often, long term physical health conditions, social isolation and poverty can impact significantly on our mental health.
- In a nutshell, if your mental health affects your life (now or in the past), and/or you are living with long term physical health conditions, which impact your mental health and wellbeing, and/or you feel lonely and isolated – this offer is for you.
In partnership
