ESOL classes, employment help and women only exercise at BYO

Bangladeshi Youth Organisation (BYO) has been at the heart of life in Manningham for more than 40 years.

It was established by young new arrivals from Bangladesh and Pakistan who made the city their home in 1982.

BYO soon became a place where families and children found a sense of community.

It also unlocked access to different services - such as the first BAME Housing Association, unemployment projects and guidance for young people.

It also became a port of call during the pandemic for food parcels and support.

Now it has received £137,000 to inspire women and girls to take control of their lives.

Women can reach out for language help through ESOL classes or turn their passion for food into a career by getting hygiene certificates.

From exercise classes to volunteering opportunities, BYO hopes to integrate more women into society through better health outcomes, improved employability and connection.

One woman, who volunteered at BYO, has qualified as a social worker.

Other women simply come to escape the inner city at the weekly gardening group.

Mohammed Joynal, BYO project manager, said: “We’ve got mums coming to an older age, they've got this massive house, the children have left, working elsewhere.

"The mum is stuck in this five-bedroom house, they don’t want to sell and move on because this is home: ‘This is where I came first in the UK, this is where I know everybody, I don’t want to go to Idle, Thackley, Shipley, where my children’s gone’.

"They’ll be even more isolated. Come 4.30pm, it’s dark. 

“Friday evening, we’ve got a mixed drop-in. They come five to 8.30pm. They have a meal. They just don’t want to go home. When they come to BYO they’ve got 30 ladies, they have a bit of exercise. They’re socialising. It’s really fantastic in that we’re always learning and looking how we can support them.”

The previous Lord Mayor of Bradford Cllr Martin Love joined for BYO's 40th anniversary celebrations (Image: Newsquest)

‘Women Forward Together’ will be funded by The National Lottery Community Fund across three years.

Mohammed said: “Before Covid we had the lottery give us a small amount of money to do some work with young people. We had a good relationship with them. People were really inspired with the work we were doing.

“Covid hit, we were closed for about three months. Covid showed how bad things really were and made it worse. A lot of people work in the catering industry. That took a massive hit. People were on furlough for some time and after it wasn’t the same.

“This current project, we can’t solve everything but what’s really had a massive impact post Covid and underlying issues is health. We’re talking physical health, mental health. If you’re living in Wharfedale, 10 miles from Manningham, there’s [an] 11 to 12 years life expectancy difference.

“It’s tied with poverty, lifestyle, the environment. Health is the most important thing.

“Then it comes into the employability side, how do we get some of these ladies that can work, are willing to work, to work? How can we support them? We’ve got a family. We haven’t got resources to pick people up and drop them off. How do they become a positive role model for their family, daughters, young kids that they’re raising? If they have some independent income that helps a lot and mental wellbeing as well.”

He shared the story of a woman who volunteered at BYO after struggling with low mood.

She went from spending a lot of time alone at home to preparing meals for the community.

“After the four weeks, she believed in herself,” said Mohammed.

It was stories like these which inspired BYO to reach out to the lottery for funding. 

He said: “We’ve been here since 1982, we were actually thinking of closing, a lot of the funding was dried up. But when Covid hit we were just able to keep going.

“After Covid we saw we needed something long term.”

The launch of the latest project drew more than 100 women to the centre for a day of health checks for blood pressure and diabetes.

Eight vaccinations were carried out by Rimmington's Pharmacy, which debunked myths and mystery around Covid-19 and flu vaccines.

BYO is also holding workshops on the dangers of the online world for children with retired police officer Fiz Ahmed QPM and other important topics.

Mohammed said: “It’s about little things we can do to make a massive impact in their lives.”

For more information on events visit https://byobradford.org.uk/ or visit BYO, on Cornwall Road, which is open seven days a week.

There are several activities for young people, families, men, women, and girls.