Bringing Communities Together: A Summer of Cohesion, Partnership and Celebration

This summer, Manningham Housing Association (MHA) has brought residents, colleagues, partners and community organisations together through a programme of events across Bradford and Keighley.

From its annual Summer Mela to neighbourhood cohesion days, the events have created opportunities for residents to meet neighbours, enjoy activities and connect with local organisations.

At the Summer Mela at Manningham Sports Centre, families enjoyed music, food, games, face painting, henna art, balloon modelling and community stalls. A mechanical bull and bouncy castle kept younger visitors entertained, while local organisations shared information about their work.

Hollings Youth Association also used the event to raise awareness of the impact of nitrous oxide misuse in local communities. MHA also announced the winners of its gardening competition during the evening.

The summer programme has also included partnership work with Accent Housing. Earlier in August, the organisations joined forces for a BD3 Cohesion Day around Hetton Drive, offering residents free activities including face painting, henna, food, races and a bouncy castle.

The event brought together colleagues from both housing associations, with teams sharing resources and working directly with residents in the neighbourhood.

MHA’s wider summer programme has included a Sports Festival at Keighley Rugby Union Stadium, a Brontë heritage trip and a Thank You Lunch for residents at Anchor Court.

For MHA, these events also create informal opportunities for residents to speak with housing colleagues and local organisations. Conversations over food or while taking part in activities can offer a different way for residents to share their views.

Sayful Islam from MHA said:

“It has been fantastic to see so many residents and families taking part in our events this summer. Seeing neighbours coming together, children enjoying themselves and people having the opportunity to connect is what community engagement is all about.

“I would like to thank all our residents who came along, our colleagues who gave their time to help, and all the partners and community organisations who supported us. The joint work with Accent Housing was particularly positive and showed what we can achieve when organisations work together for the benefit of the whole community.”

MHA has thanked the residents, colleagues, volunteers, partners and community organisations who helped deliver this summer’s programme.