Achieving our initial target of 5500 members is just the first step for our membership plan. Over the last few weeks, we have been busy adding names to our membership database, so that we can start to send news to people who have expressed an interest in supporting the Trust’s work.

Many people with learning disabilities and mental health problems face stigma in our society. Although 1 in 4 people will be affected by a mental health problem at some point in their lives, it is still an issue that many of us find difficult to talk about. One of the main priorities for us as a Trust is to break down this stigma. We want our members to help us do that, so we will be sending out information about the work that we do, and how people in the community can help.

Over the next couple of weeks, our plans for formally consulting with the public about our FT plans will be finalised. Events will be held throughout the District, which you can attend to tell us what you think. The dates will be published on this site.

As always, if you have any comments, please email ft@bdct.co.uk or ring (01274) 363552. If you would like to sign up as a member, then visit our online membership form.

The 2500th member of the Foundation Trust was signed up last week in Bradford City Centre, pushing our total membership beyond the halfway point! The Trust needs to recruit approximately 5000 members by the end of the year in order to be approved as a Foundation Trust by Monitor, the independent group that regulates FTs. We are therefore well on track to achieve the total. Thanks to everyone who has helped out with signing members up at the various events we have been at. Don’t forget, you can sign up online.

Over 100,000 people attended this year’s Bradford Mela, one of the largest festivals of its type in Europe. Visitors had the chance to see live music acts, art displays, dancing, drumming and enjoy food from around the world. Last year’s event had to be cancelled because of torrential rain - however this year the weather held out!

Bradford District Care Trust was present, telling people about our drive to become a Foundation Trust, how local people can have more say over their local services, and signing people up as members. We signed up over 400 new members over the weekend, taking our total membership to over 1600. It’s really important for us that our Foundation Trust membership reflects the community that we serve, and getting down to community events such as the Mela is a great opportunity. Over the next few weeks and months, we will be at a number of fairs and festivals, including the Bradford Trident Summer Celebration and Bingley Show.

Bradford District Care will have a stand at Bradford Mela, both to tell people about Foundation Trust,  to promote working at the Trust and the work of the equality and diversity team. The Mela is a lively event with music, dancing and food from around the world. It will be taking place on the 14th and 15th of June, in Peel Park, Bradford. The day starts at 12 noon, and finishes at 9pm. In the past, it has attracted over 100,000 visiotrs, making it one of the biggest events of its kind in Europe.

If you are coming down to the Mela, look out for our stand (stalls 119 and 120). If you’d like to volunteer to help out on either day, ring Tom Sheppard on (01274) 363552.

The Trust was out in force at the Bradford Bulls on Friday, and signed up over 150 members to the Foundation Trust. Bradford District Care Trust has been working closely with the Bulls ot promote Foundation Trust status, and the difference it will make in keeping local services in the hands of local people. Everyone who signed up on Friday was entered into a prize draw to win pairs of VIP tickets, a signed shirt and a signed ball. The draw will be made later this week.

The Trust had volunteers from across its different services present - thanks go out to Juanaid Ismail, Abdul Ismail, Graham Whitfield, Andy Arnfield, Ian Conyers, Matthew Barber, Diane Palmer, Sam Smith, Michael Pears, Pam Reddihough, Soroya Julian, Michael Cockle, Maggie Asquith, Alison Dunlop, Carolyn Stafford, Anne Callan, Brendan Fatchett and Sam Hirst.