In Bradford District and Craven, we have always been about community and communities leading change. It is in this spirit that we decided to set up and test out a new programme, blending more traditional approaches to work-based apprenticeships with community voice and advocacy.
The Healthy Community Traineeship programme launched in October 2023, five trainees were recruited from Bradford localities and came into post for 18-months, with their time with us coming to an end on Friday 25 April 2025.
We know that the government’s 10 year plan for health will centre on three key areas: from hospital to community; from treatment to prevention; and from analogue to digital. Our programme has demonstrated how it could help with two of the three shifts – from hospital to community and from sickness to prevention.
Our trainees were an open age, multi-culturally diverse team using their lived experience and passion for community working to ensure that community-based projects thrive and flourish. Their main duties were to act as positive role models and advocates for Bradford District and Craven communities, whilst promoting community voice. Our trainees worked across a wide variety of community-based projects or programmes that service communities within the health and wellbeing sector. They either developed or learnt new skills especially around involving people by taking part in coproduction, codesign and a series of placements to broaden their skills and abilities; with the aim of understanding and then coming up with solutions to prevent the widening of health inequalities.
- Placements in the community – the team completed placements at 24 organisations including: Horton Housing , Red Letter Project, Child Friendly Bradford, ACAP, Salvation Army, MIND Bradford and WomenZone supporting service users across a broad range of diverse projects, including supporting women only, men only and 50+ groups, delivering awareness workshops, mentoring programmes, supporting and shadowing community outreach teams, social prescribing, attending community events and presenting at board meetings as community voice advocates.
- Living Well ‘Your Space’ Drop In @ Bevan Healthcare – each member of the team, usually in pairs on rotation, were placed at this service every Wednesday 9am – 2pm. They were providing service users with useful information to raise awareness of Living Well services, often using their lived experience to provide holistic advice to signpost service users to the correct service.
- ‘Living In Bradford’ Paper – this was a paper that the trainees researched and wrote over the 18 months they were with us. The paper – focusing on ‘wicked issues’ – is due to be shared with community leaders. It features four phases: the teams own thoughts views and opinions as community workers, community voice and case studies, VCSE sector workers voice and opinions and finally, the thoughts and views of leaders. It has already been dubbed as a unique and interesting read that will hopefully lead to learning and further support for communities.
‘During my time as a Healthy Communities Trainee, I gained so much more than just work experience – it was a key part of my journey, both personally and professionally. Being only 21, I was still figuring things out, and the work placements gave me the space and support to grow, build confidence, and explore what I was passionate about. One of the proudest moments for me was creating and delivering my own Grief and Loss workshop, which was a deeply personal project that really helped me find my voice and connect with others. I had the chance to attend loads of fun and engaging learning events, meet inspiring people, and build real, lasting work relationships. It was also during this time that I started volunteering with MIND, and I instantly felt connected to the work and the people. That experience made me realise I wanted to be more involved, which led me to apply for—and proudly step into—the role of KidsTime Service Coordinator. I’m genuinely so grateful for this opportunity, for giving me that first step and helping shape the path I’m now on.’
Maheen Zahra – Former Healthy Community Trainee – Bradford MIND
A unique collaboration between Living Well, Public Health, All Star and the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership; this trailblazing programme sure has a lot to celebrate. Working with 43 voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations across 15 Bradford postcodes, including Keighley; completing and passing twenty-three accredited qualifications equalling 240 hours of training, and taking part in 24 combined placements in the community. The trainees have been helping and supporting services and a broad range of service users, giving people the chance to take greater control of their health and wellbeing.
‘We wanted to create a non-traditional entry level opportunity that set the team up with all the necessary skills and abilities for community working, in the hope that at the end of their contract they would remain in the sector and expand their career path continuing the positive work they have achieved in the community. I’m delighted to hear that three out of five trainees have successfully secured new employment opportunities within partners that make up the Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership. Our two other trainees are now exploring self-employment opportunities within the VCSE. I’m proud of the team, the quality and depth of their work, they have achieved so much in just 18 moths; everyone at All Star wishes them well for the future – they will always be able to access our help and support throughout their career.’
Michael Davis – Operation Director/HCT Line Manager – All Star