We’re introducing the people of Bradford to the world. People like Rubina and Sadia, keeping their heritage alive and empowering women in Bradford Moor.

Rubina, told us: “The term most people use about WomenZone is that it’s like a family. I think that speaks for itself, that people are well looked after, well taken care of, and well listened to.”

“Most of the women who use the centre are South Asian, from the first generation to the present. One thing which bridges the gap is cultural activities. Everyone has a special bond with their culture, and we always want to stay connected with our roots, culture and art and music.”

“If you put on a performance or you put on an exhibition, it’s making a space where people from different cultures or different generations feel they can come together. A lot of people will say, “Oh, I can’t go to the church” or “I can’t go to the mosque” or “I can’t go here” or “I can’t go there”. But food and music and all that stuff, they bring people together because they don’t have any boundaries, they don’t have any language. Only a language of love, which we all understand.”

Sadia added: “What you get with WomenZone is what it says on the tin. Our logo says WomenZone Empowering Women, and that’s what we’re all about.”

“We had the Loving Grannies Music project, which was looking at folk music and where it came from in places like India and Pakistan, how it’s traveled across the seas and come here. So, it’s just trying to keep bits of heritage alive.”

“I feel like this is a place where people can be seen. Often, women are doing their duty. They’re looking after everybody else, they put everyone’s needs first. This is a place they come where their needs are met, where they are put first, their voices are heard. And I think that’s a really nice feeling to have for the women, that this is somewhere where they’re seen for who they are rather than just what they can do for others.”

The People of Bradford is a digital series by renowned documentary photographer, Tim Smith, for Bradford 2025. Tim’s photographs and creative work capture the social and cultural experience of his subjects, and in this insightful series, we’ll bring together the lives and stories of real Bradford people with his captivating imagery.

We are Bradford 2025. We are people powered.

To book your free ticket, please contact 01274 665270 

WomenZone Launches Groundbreaking Sufi Music Heritage Project in Bradford thanks to National Lottery funding

Bradford’s rich and diverse cultural heritage is set to take centre stage with the launch of the “Sufi Music Heritage” project, generously funded by a £99,938 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. This initiative is poised to showcase the profound impact of Sufi heritage and Qawwali on the multicultural tapestry of the city, fostering inclusivity and community engagement.

The project’s primary objective is to empower women from South Asian communities, providing them with a platform to lead and shape their own festival program. Serving as curators, performers, and festival organisers, these women will play a pivotal role in promoting the unique cultural heritage embedded in Sufi traditions.

In addition to celebrating the Sufi heritage, the project aims to reach new audiences by delivering an inclusive activity programme throughout 2024. This program will actively involve individuals who are often underrepresented in heritage activities, including people with disabilities, those facing mental health challenges, LGBTQI+ groups, and individuals from lower socio-economic backgrounds. The project seeks to create a space for shared learning and engagement by bringing these diverse groups together.

The project, made possible by National Lottery players, will also work with young people through the delivery of creative workshops in schools throughout 2024. This hands-on approach that will include poetry, playing of instruments and singing, will ensure the conservation and passing on of these cultural treasures to the next generation.

Beyond the preservation of cultural heritage, the project aspires to contribute to the broader community by enhancing understanding, tolerance, and respect among Bradford’s residents. In a city that, at times, feels divided, the Sufi Music Heritage project strives to build bridges through shared experiences and mutual appreciation.

The project will culminate with a district-wide festival that will align with Bradford 2025 and celebrate Sufi heritage and Qawwali, with a range of events such an immersive Sufi music experience. The festival will be filmed and archived online so that it can be accessed by wider audiences and used as an educational tool in schools.

Aamta-Tul Waheed, Project Coordinator, said: “Especially in the wake of the challenges posed by COVID-19 and the cost-of-living crisis, the project aims to address the severe impact on mental health and wellbeing. By involving local communities in the development of cultural activities and creating an enjoyable festival programme in 2025, the project seeks to restore a sense of community, belonging, value, and self-esteem.

Importantly, the core values of Sufism, integrated into the project, emphasise mindfulness, spirituality, self-renunciation, and ethical improvement. By encouraging individuals to interpret these values for improved self-awareness and self-actualisation, the project aims to foster a positive impact on the overall wellbeing of the community.

The Sufi Music Heritage project offers a unique opportunity to celebrate diversity, promote cultural understanding, and uplift the spirits of Bradford’s residents.”

Helen Featherstone, Director, England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund said: “Inclusive heritage is very important to us at The National Lottery Heritage Fund which is why we are proud to support WomenZone with this project to share and preserve Sufi heritage and Qawwali. It is fantastic to know that, thanks to National Lottery players, local women from South Asian communities will be empowered to celebrate this important cultural heritage and help to broaden understanding in the wider community.”

For more information, please contact:

Aamta-Tul Waheed: aamtatulwaheed@womenzonecc.co.uk

Mandeep Samra: mandeepsamra@womenzone.co.uk

About WomenZone

WomenZone is a registered charity and CIO situated in the heart of Bradford Moor, one of the most deprived communities in Bradford. The organisation was established in 2003, by a group of local women in order to address the disadvantages which women in the area face.

WomenZone was established to respond to the needs of local women. Our aim was (and still is) to provide them with a safe, women-only place, from which they could access services designed to prevent social exclusion and enable full integration into society.

Our principal aim is to empower, inspire and enrich the lives of women of all ages in the local area, the majority of whom come from South Asian communities.

We focus and target our work on under-represented communities, delivering from Bradford Moor but engaging women, girls and their families throughout Bradford East and further afield across the district.

Whilst providing direct support to women, we also take a whole family approach, recognising that this is the best way to achieve the biggest impact. We therefore provide sessions where male members of the family can take part too.

About The National Lottery Heritage Fund

As the largest dedicated funder of the UK’s heritage, The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033.

Over the next ten years, we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to bring about benefits for people, places and the natural environment.

We help protect, transform and share the things from the past that people care about, from popular museums and historic places, our natural environment and fragile species, to the languages and cultural traditions that celebrate who we are.

We are passionate about heritage and committed to driving innovation and collaboration to make a positive difference to people’s lives today, while leaving a lasting legacy for future generations to enjoy.

Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund  www.heritagefund.org.uk

For Sharena’s work, please visit www.sharenaleesatti.com