College and Community Partners Gather for Networking Event 

On the evening of June 13, 2023, Bradford College’s Adult and Community Provision held a crucial community networking event in the Bronte Lecture Theatre. The event marked the beginning of a new phase in community education with the launch of the “Bradford College in Your Community” initiative. This networking event provided a valuable opportunity for the College and its partners to collaborate on developing educational provision that will benefit the residents of Bradford. 

The event was attended by a host of local organisations that currently work in community education across Bradford , including Bradford Trident, Millside Community Centre, and the Department for Work and Pensions. The focus was on discussing and strategising ways to address the educational needs of the local community. 

Adrian Hutchinson, Head of Adult and Community Provision, emphasised the significance of this type of collaboration. He stated, “One of the things that we are really conscious about is that so many students and adults in the area don’t have essential literacy, numeracy, and digital skills for the job market. By collaborating with local community partners who have insights into these learning challenges, we will be better positioned to bridge this gap.” 

Adrian also introduced the new community provision strategy, “Bradford College in Your Community.” This strategy aims to place the College at the heart of the community by engaging with people in their area and providing support where they feel most comfortable. “By doing this,” Adrian explained, “we hope to support people with low-level skills through courses that build their confidence and eventually encourage them to pursue courses at levels 2, 3, and even 4.” 

The evening wasn’t just focused on networking and discussions. Attendees were also treated to a special performance of Romeo and Juliet by some of the college’s ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) students. These talented students had previously delivered a similar performance at the Alhambra Theatre in Bradford earlier this year. Their confident and theatrical rendition of Shakespeare’s classic play was met with great applause, highlighting the potential and creativity fostered within our community education programmes. 

Throughout the event, there was a strong sense of enthusiasm and commitment to creating a thriving community learning network. The interactive discussions allowed partners to share insights and strategies for developing a partnership approach to community learning in the Bradford area. 

At Bradford College, we are dedicated to empowering our local community through quality education and engagement programmes.  

Explore our adult and community provision to see how we can support Bradford on it’s educational journey. For more information about our community programmes and how you can get involved, visit our website.