On 25th and 26th November 2025, Bradford College’s Adult Skills Team joined forces with the Personal Development and Enrichment Team to support the Bradford City of Culture Volunteering Programme. The collaboration aimed to encourage adult learners to sign up for exciting work experience opportunities across West Yorkshire.
As part of the National Careers Event, dedicated stalls were set up to provide students with information and guidance, not only about volunteering for Bradford City of Culture but also from key community partners, including Bradford Hate Crime Alliance, Bradford Youth Service, Fountains Inn Church, and Locala Health Services. These stalls created a vibrant hub for career advice and personal development.
Sarah Odor, Curriculum Area Manager in Community, reflected on the success: “This partnership shows how education and culture can work hand in hand to create real opportunities for our learners. Seeing so many students sign up was inspiring.”
Over the two-day event, around 140 students visited the stalls, showing strong interest in volunteering and career progression. Mohammed Azeem, Personal Development Officer, shared his observations: “The stalls were buzzing with energy. Students were not just signing up. they were asking questions, exploring options, and planning their next steps.”
To further enrich the experience, Bradford City of Culture delivered an engaging workshop titled “How to Speak Confidently in Front of a Crowd and Network Like a Pro”, attracting an additional 38 Health and Social Care students across two sessions. Seima Mahmood, Curriculum Team Leader in Community, added: “Our goal was to empower students to take that first step into volunteering and networking. The turnout and enthusiasm exceeded all expectations.”
Following sign-ups, around 50 adult learners attended an induction session, eager to begin their volunteering journey. Their enthusiasm was clear, with the most popular question being: “When can we pick up our uniforms?” Danny Wahid, Volunteer Area Co-ordinator for Bradford City of Culture, concluded: “The response from Bradford College students was phenomenal. Their excitement to get involved shows the strength of community spirit in Bradford. What’s even better is that sign-ups are still ongoing, which means the number of volunteers will continue to grow.”
Javier Gomez, Head of Adult Skills, emphasized the importance of the initiative: “Bradford City of Culture is a once in a lifetime event, and we’re proud to help our learners be part of it. These experiences will boost confidence and employability.”
Bradford College is proud to play a key role in preparing students for meaningful experiences that enhance both their skills and their community involvement. This collaboration marks another step toward empowering learners and celebrating Bradford’s cultural future.
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