A UK registered charity that owns and runs Bradley Park
We took over Bradley Park on a community assets transfer scheme from Kirklees Council in December 2017 and fundraised to design and build the new community centre. We are UK registered charity of local Bradley resident volunteers who manage the whole park and buildings in our spare time.
Friends of Bradley Park is a special type of charity called a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
FOBP was formed and registered as a charity on 24th August 2016. This move brought together more formally a number of the initial steering group members with the sole purpose of restoring and re-building Bradley Park after an arson attack in 2014. Our “tree” logo represents many of our founders coming together to create the park.
The Friends of Bradley Park charitable aims are: .. for the benefit of the inhabitants of Huddersfield, to provide or assist in the provision of facilities for recreation and other leisure time occupation in the interests of social welfare with the object of improving their conditions of life for the inhabitants of the area of benefit in particular but not exclusively by the preservation, promotion, support, assistance and improvement of Bradley Park.
In short this means creating a park that is owned and cared for by the local community it serves.
We are always on the lookout for new members so if you want to join us please get in touch by emailing info@bradleypark.org.uk
In addition to our members we subcontract out some of the more complex tasks such as maintenance and grass cutting and we also reply on community volunteers for many tasks.
Our History…
It fair to say that we have walked a long road and its not always been easy. Here is a timeline of our emotional roller-coaster so far…
23-03-2020
Coronavirus
The community centre and playground is closed due to Covid19 lockdown restrictions. FOBP volunteers maintain the open park for the community but this is difficult with no rental income.
10-05-2019
Bradley Park Community Centre Open
Bookings are now being taken for the Bradley Park Community Centre which will open on 10th May 2019. To book visit www.bradleypark.org.uk
The Meeting Room at Bradley Park
Main room and 1 of the sets of tables.
19-10-2018
Power UP! Thanks to Smith Brothers
Four years after the old changing rooms burnt down the lights are now back on in Bradley Park thanks to a generous donation of time and materials by local electrical engineering firm Smith Brothers. The new purpose-built community centre at Bradley Park was due to open in the summer of 2018 but has been delayed by problems with our power supply. Bradley resident and Smith Brothers employee Darren Kirk lives next to the park and asked his management if they were able to help. Smith Brothers responded by not only designing a brand-new power supply but donated materials and equipment to make it happen and were able to mobilise a team of volunteers from their own workforce to install it.
As a result of Smith Brothers generosity, we now have a new, modern, fit for purpose power connection that will serve the Bradley Community well for many years to come. What’s more we are now back on track to open the new Bradley Park Community Centre in the coming weeks – not months! Bradley Park Community Centre will provide a new home for the Bradley Community and provide facilities not currently available in Bradley for people all ages. We cannot thank Smith Brothers and their staff enough for coming to help us.
03-07-2018
Bradley Park Community Centre Finally arrives!
We did it! FOBP Celebrates as Bradley Park Community Centre arrives early in the morning at Bradley Park!
Our new community building is coming to Bradley Park on Tuesday 3rd July! At least eight – 50 tonne loaded trucks and a very large crane will follow the route below. We will contact residents to ask that there are no cars parked on White Cross, Wilton Av and Meadow Croft on the day to allow the trucks to pass.
07-04-2018
New building reaches framework stage of construction
09-03-2018
GDGC Takeover maintenance of Bradley Park
GDGC will be responsible for grass cutting, bins and maintenance of Bradley Park. Weather permitting they will make their first of many site visits today. Maintenance and upkeep of Bradley Park is funded by the work of Friends of Bradley Park charity who run the park on a not for profit basis.
08-03-2018
Building work begins
Construction of our new building begins in tandem in both Lincolnshire and on site.
21-12-2017
Friends of Bradley Park take over the whole Park
At 4.30pm today the legal transfer of Bradley Park to us was complete and the people of Bradley became the first in the region to own and run their own park.
18-12-2017
Friends of Bradley Park take over the Depot
Today Friends of Bradley Park took control of the old Kirklees Council depot, yard and storage on Bradley Park. Our new depot will be used for community storage for groups such as Bradley Girl guides and for park maintenance equipment. The supply of power, toilets and water to the field will greatly improve the quality of events such as our annual fun day on Bradley Park.
12-12-2017
FOBP Signs the lease!
Chairman Richard Barker and Trustee Yvette Bushby have signed the paperwork. On Monday the 18th of December 2017 people of Bradley will own Bradley Park!
04-12-2017
Lease arrives for signing
A copy of the 125 year lease of Bradley Park has arrived!
27-11-2017
Lease approved by FOBP
Friends or Bradley Park members have approved a historic motion to sign the proposed 125 year lease with Kirklees Council and bring Bradley Park into community ownership. A preliminary date for the handover was set as the 18th of December 2017. The vote was held at the at the Bradley TRA and represents a massive step towards a commitment to having Bradley Park run by the community for the community. Signing the lease will release significant funding for a new community building, offices, meeting room and changing facilities for which the group already has planning permission. The new facilities and extensive sports pitches will be rented to community groups on a not for profit basis to pay for park maintenance and improvements
06-10-2017
First site visit from the building manufacturers
Friends of Bradley Park have just had a very productive site meeting with Ged O’Reilly, the Managing Director of Avalon Cabins. Avalon are the proposed contractors for our new building and were at Bradley Park today to do their first site visit to check the site and construction access!
Planning Permission for the new building is approved!
Another major milestone is reached as we have received planning approval for the new building! http://www.kirklees.gov.uk/beta/planning-applications/search-for-planning-applications/filedownload.aspx?application_number=2017/91135&file_reference=645151
12-05-2017
Friends of Bradley Park are successful in the 1st stage application of funding for new park railings
We have applied for £50,000 for new Park railings. FoBP are now through to the second stage in the process of applying for funds from the peoples lottery.
05-05-2017
Planning permission gets underway
Friends of Bradley Park today submitted a planning application for the new building. You can see the application online.
04-05-2017
Friends of Bradley Park wins APT award for outstanding effort - 2017
29-04-2017
£200 Donation received from Huddersfield ASDA community fund
A massive thank you to Huddersfield ASDA and all of you that voted for a £200 donation to Friends of Bradley Park.
31-03-2017
Kirklees Council Cabinet approve the community assets transfer application.
This is a massive milestone for Friends of Bradley Park. Once the paperwork is complete later in the year the whole of Bradley Park including the council depot will be in community ownership!
..and our plans for Bradley Park in the latest edition of the Ashbrow community newsletter. If you’ve not got a copy you can read it online by clicking here
Ashbrow Community Newsletter
28-02-2017
"Any council green space" consultation completed
This is part of the procedure for handing over responsibility for council green spaces.
18-02-2017
First charity coffee morning and tombola
Our first charity coffee morning and tombola at the TRA raises much needed funds.
31-01-2017
The council implement a temporary solution to securing the park gets underway
18-01-2017
Drafts Terms produced for 125 year lease of Bradley Park
.. were received by FoBP from Kirklees Council. These outline the terms of a 125 year lease of Bradley Park.
01-11-2016
Community assets transfer application submitted.
A formal application for the assets transfer of Bradley Park to Friends of Bradley Park is submitted today.
10-10-2016
New Building specification finalised
After much deliberation and discussion the final internal layout of the new building is approved by members of Friends of Bradley Park. Here is the agreed layout…
24-08-2016
Friends of Bradley Park becomes a registered charity!
A new Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) Friends of Bradley Park was formed and registered on 24th August 2016, bringing together more formally a number of the Bradley Park Steering Group members.
20-08-2016
First Bradley Park Fun Day
Friends of Bradley Park successfully held their first large event. A fun day on Bradley Park.
25-07-2016
FoBP Governance decisions made, agreement on roles and responsibilities
a draft constitution for the new charity group was formed and the founding trustees and chairman are appointed.
14-06-2016
Budget costs and market rates analysed
.. for the new building!
12-05-2016
A 50 page draft business plan was finalised
.. to support the formal application to transfer ownership and all responsibility for Bradley Park to the Friends of Bradley Park. This plan includes full details of the proposed new building and in depth financial analysis and projections.
22-06-2015
Consultation with community and stakeholders to influence specification and design of facilities
The steering group today launched a consultation with community and stakeholders to influence specification and design of the new facilities on Bradley Park.
12-05-2015
Steering group established
A Steering group for Bradley Park is established from a coming together of the following local groups and organisations.
Bradley Tenants & Residents Association
St Thomas School
Bradley Out of School Club
Bradley Brownies
Chestnut Family Forum
Various local individuals
Ashbrow Partnering Together
Other Stakeholder Interest includes:
Local ward councillors
Huddersfield Deanery Project
Huddersfield school Boys Football Team
Deighton Into Sport Project
10-07-2014
Arsonists destroy the old changing rooms
12-05-1964
New playground in 1964
12-05-1952
Bradley Park opened in 1952
alongside the new Bradley Estate. The new park had a pitch and putt and a paddling pool – both now long gone.
Friends or Bradley Park members have approved a historic motion to sign the proposed 125 year lease with Kirklees Council and bring Bradley Park into community ownership. A preliminary date for the handover was set as the 18th of December 2017. The vote was held at the at the Bradley TRA and represents a massive step towards a commitment to having Bradley Park run by the community for the community. Signing the lease will release significant funding for a new community building, offices, meeting room and changing facilities for which the group already has planning permission. The new facilities and extensive sports pitches will be rented to community groups on a not for profit basis to pay for park maintenance and improvements
Friends of Bradley Park today submitted a planning application for the new building. You can see the application online.
Friends or Bradley Park members have approved a historic motion to sign the proposed 125 year lease with Kirklees Council and bring Bradley Park into community ownership. A preliminary date for the handover was set as the 18th of December 2017. The vote was held at the at the Bradley TRA and represents a massive step towards a commitment to having Bradley Park run by the community for the community. Signing the lease will release significant funding for a new community building, offices, meeting room and changing facilities for which the group already has planning permission. The new facilities and extensive sports pitches will be rented to community groups on a not for profit basis to pay for park maintenance and improvements
Friends of Bradley Park today submitted a planning application for the new building. You can see the application online.
