The Bradford Character Event 2026 brought together an extraordinary mix of voices — employers, headteachers, community leaders, grassroots organisations and young people — at the vibrant Darley Street Market. Four distinct panels explored the same fundamental question from completely different angles: how do we build character, belonging and skills for every young person, regardless of their background?
What emerged was a powerful, recurring thread: qualifications matter, but they're not enough. Employers hire for attitude, aptitude and team fit. And across the city, grassroots organisations are quietly filling the gaps — using music, food, sport and community to nourish young people in ways the curriculum alone cannot.
Bradford
City of Culture 2025
"Every child should have a personal learning plan to guide their journey. In the past it's been too hard to do this — too bureaucratic — but now we have the technology."
Professor Phil Cummins — Opening Address, Bradford Character Event 2026
Panel One
Two Extraordinary Leaders With One Shared Mission
Unlocking the potential in young people — from a football club and an alternative provision academy, the same unwavering belief.
Qasim Akhtar
Chairman, Bradford City AFC Women
Qasim grew up just around the corner from Bradford City's ground. Bradford City Women sit top of their league with 250 women training every week, many of whom are in care or absent from school. He pays close attention to all players — it starts with the body language and the handshake.
"That's where character begins." His goal? "To make excellent people." Simple. Powerful.
Richard Bottomley
Headteacher, Bradford Alternative Provision Academy
Richard works with students who've often been permanently excluded, some travelling on two buses just to get there. High engagement rates, students returning to mainstream or apprenticeships. The environment is deliberately different: relaxed, human, built around relationships.
"Students have a chance to have a go at stuff rather than being forced down a path that doesn't fit them."
in
Two remarkable settings, two remarkably dedicated leaders. Both proving that when you invest in character, relationships and belonging, you change lives.
#BradfordCharacter #Character #Belonging #AlternativeProvision
#BradfordCharacter#Character#Belonging#AlternativeProvision
Panel Two
Inside the System: Educators & Implementers on Building Character
Four contrasting settings — mainstream, SEND, community and research — yet strikingly similar challenges.
Jonathan Kennedy
Bradford Diocesan Academies Trust
Directing student leadership across 21 schools, Jonathan ensures every student has the opportunity to take a leadership role — through student parliament, sports teams or other non-academic opportunities. Their approach treats the school group as a family.
Diane Ainsworth RCDP
SEND Specialist
Diane works on the 'inside-out' challenge — supporting SEN students into employment. With EHCPs expected to rise dramatically, she's developing a transition document for Greater Manchester to better support young people as they move toward adulthood.
Amy Calvert
First Give
Amy empowers young people to identify social issues and turn them into social action. Students research local causes and present to win funding for charities — character education at its most outward-facing.
Phil Sage
Alliance for Education Life Chances
The Alliance is the 'research to practice' bridge. Phil emphasised the importance of storytelling, shared spaces for shared belonging, and being willing to occupy uncomfortable spaces — real change requires honest collaboration.
"Real change requires data sharing and honest collaboration."
#Education#SEND#Community#Belonging#Leadership#CharacterEducation
Panel Three
Community Voices on Indispensable Life Skills
Grassroots work proving meaningful change starts with people, not policies — community creates the belonging where character is built.
Mark Stevens
Founder, Sound of Change
From Neighbours and touring with Take That to battling mental health challenges and addiction — Mark's journey is raw and remarkable. His "Battle for the Mind" sessions create safe spaces where mental health education becomes relatable, not just informative. He's reached thousands of students.
Mark doesn't just teach resilience — he absolutely personifies it.
Fozia Naseem
Partnerships Manager, GiveBradford
Fozia reminded us employability doesn't begin with a CV — it starts with confidence. She shared how raising five children taught her project management, budgeting, logistics and conflict resolution — skills often invisible until we name them.
Juli Thompson
FoodSavers Network
Juli uses food to build community and skills at Darley Street Market. Through Kitty's Bread "Breaducation," she gives free bread-making classes to schools, prisons, food banks and community groups.
"Baking bread is good for our brains, our budgets, our bodies — and builds connection."
in
Music 🎶 and cooking 🍳 are vital for a purposeful life, yet they're being pushed out of mainstream education. These grassroots organisations are filling the gap. Bradford's strength lies in recognising what matters 💪
#BradfordCharacter #Community #MentalHealth #Employability
#Community#MentalHealth#Employability#Bradford
Panel Four
Building the Bridge: Character & Skills Lead to Employment
Employers, the Chamber and the Council answer the critical question: what happens when character meets careers?
Mark Hollebon
PwC Bradford
PwC's Academy has 10 apprentices — specifically recruiting young people with few qualifications and those with SEND. Apprentice Uzair Khan, just 18, made the case: 90,000 graduates chasing 10,000 grad roles. Starting young, gaining experience and building qualifications through work makes more sense.
Gareth Edwards
Executive Producer, BBC
Gareth landed at the BBC by chance. He reviews hundreds of CVs for a handful of roles, looking for life stories with attitude, aptitude and team fit — not just academic credentials. Career journeys rarely follow straight lines.
"There's no more 'family TV time'. Everything is on demand, whenever, wherever."
Rebecca Fitzgerald
Chamber of Commerce & Yorkshire Building Society
A "Bradford lass," Rebecca uses the phrase "humans in the lead" when talking about AI. Technology can make work more efficient, but critical thinking is even more important. AI is good at making decisions, but not always the right ones.
"The 'bridges' into employment are built by the people in this room."
Richard Crane
Bradford Council
The best schools focus on character-building experiences and enrichment, not just exam results. The future workforce needs collaboration, teamwork, interpersonal skills and the humility to know what they're not expert at.
"We need to change how schools are judged."
in
The thread: qualifications open doors, but character, skills and lived experience keep you in the room.
#BradfordCharacter #CharacterEducation #Employability #Mentorship
#BradfordCharacter#Employability#Mentorship#Teamwork#AI
"Invest in character, relationships and belonging — and you change lives."
The thread running through every panel at Bradford Character Event 2026
