First Bus welcomes Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture volunteers aboard for celebration
Published March 4, 2025
First Bus joined in the celebrations as hundreds of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture volunteers gathered for a special event to share experiences and meet collectively for the first time.
The bus operator is an Official Travel Partner for the year-long celebration taking place across the city, towns, villages and greenspaces. Its team, including nearly 400 drivers, will be providing a friendly face and helpful advice to the millions of residents and visitors making trips to attractions through the year.
The volunteer group, part of a network of 3,500 volunteers who will be representing the district and spotlighting everything Bradford has to offer, met at the Cedar Court Hotel – which is also a Bradford 2025 supporter. Many travelled there from the Bradford 2025 HQ at City Park on an exclusive trip aboard the specially branded bus in the First Bus fleet carrying the message “Be Bold. Be Bradford.”
First Bus is providing support to enable UK City of Culture volunteers to travel to venues and events to assist visitors.
John Roxburgh, Head of Operations for First Bus for North & West Yorkshire, said: “We were delighted to welcome volunteers onboard and help them get together.
“Our team and our fleet will be a living, moving billboard for the UK City of Culture, helping to keep this once-in-a-lifetime spectacle in the minds of local people and newcomers to experience the brilliant entertainment and diversity in communities throughout Bradford.”
John McMahon Director of Skills, Volunteering & Wellbeing, said: “It is fantastic that our wonderful volunteers were able to travel in style aboard our very own branded First Bus. We have had people of all ages from across the district sign-up to our volunteer programme, and this event was the first opportunity to get them all together to share their personal stories and get excited for everything we have coming up in 2025.
“Our volunteers are the welcoming faces of our City of Culture year, and many have already had first-hand experience at events including our opening show ‘RISE’ at City Park. There is so much more to come – and there is still an opportunity for people to sign-up and be part of this very special year for the district.”
Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture runs from January 2025 to December 2025. It will showcase the rich history of the area and spotlight its dynamic contemporary culture in all forms; dance and theatre, music and film, visual arts and crafts, food and sport.