Come along to RISE with The Bolton Woods Centre and Our Patch
We're taking you back to our opening event of Bradford 2025, when the Shipley Our Patch team and The Bolton Woods Centre came to RISE.
Published: June 4, 2025
The Bolton Woods Centre, a true community hub in BD2, runs in
collaboration with All Star Entertainment and Bee Well CIC. They offer activities, events and support for local families and
individuals.
Back in January, the Our Patch Producer for the Shipley area, Maddy Allen, arranged for The Bolton Woods Centre to bring 40 people to RISE, the opening event for Bradford 2025.
On the day of RISE, the Bolton Woods Centre was decked out with UK City of Culture banners and bunting, ready for the opening event. As people arrived, each one was handed a warm welcome: a bag packed with hand warmers, sweet treats to enjoy during the show, and a hot chocolate for when they were home. MyLahore delivered mountains of delicious curry for everyone to enjoy before the show. For those who needed them, the centre also offered gloves and warm clothing.
Everyone stomped through the snow with hand warmers in their pockets and curry in their bellies, determined to not let the cold stop the fun. They boarded a packed train at Frizinghall and travelled to City Park, where the magic of RISE awaited.
One of the most memorable moments of the trip was watching the volunteers who had learned magic perform for the children. The show was a hit with everyone, and the energy in the crowd was electric.
The highlight for everyone at the centre was seeing Kemmi Gill and MC Cruzy T!
Kemmi is a Creative Skills Coach for All Star Entertainment and everyone on the trip knows her well.
The trip to RISE was a fantastic success – despite the snow’s best efforts to slow things down! It was a great reminder of how food and collective organising can bring people together and create meaningful engagement.
This was just the first of many more trips in 2025. There have already been trips to GRUE and Loading Bay.
At The Bolton Woods Centre, Our Patch Creative Practitioner, Dan Mallaghan, is currently supporting two groups: Youth Zen Den and Short Breaks. Tricia Arthur-Stubbs is also leading free weekly carnival dance workshops in preparation for the Centre’s debut in the parade at this year’s Wrose Carnival.
Stay connected, for updates on all the exciting activities happening in the Shipley area by following @our_patch_shipley on Instagram.
