The room in The Broadway is opening in collaboration with the centre, Bradford Council and Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust, and will be a calm space for neurodivergent visitors to retreat to if they feel overwhelmed.

General manager, Ian Ward, said: “To ensure our centre is inclusive for all, we started to look at ways we could support our customers who have additional needs. With City of Culture and the increase in visitors to the city, we thought that a sensory room would go a long way to cater for shoppers who may enjoy some quiet time. 

“We’ve renovated some unused space to make way for the city’s largest sensory room and we hope that it will help anyone who may feel overwhelmed when they’re in our busy centre.”

The room will be located close to The Hub and include mood lighting, mirrors, a musical hand and touch wall, an LED colour curtain and an acoustic bed.

Councillor Sue Duffy, Portfolio Holder for Children’s and Young People’s Neurodiversity said: “We have recently started a journey working closely with our partners with the aim of making Bradford a neurodiverse friendly district, so that when we refer to our city being inclusive it means neurological differences are recognised and respected by everyone. Today is a key milestone for all of us as we launch the sensory room in the Broadway, which has been designed specifically to support people of all ages with physical and cognitive skills and also provide a safe space for those who may become overwhelmed by all the sensory output in our modern cities.”

Therese Patten, Place Lead for Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership and Chief Executive for Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust: “Our Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership is driven by our Act as One ethos to help us achieve our vision of people living happy, healthy at home. To do this we need to create active, involved and inclusive communities where we recognise and celebrate our differences. This includes helping people who are neurodivergent achieve their full potential and make valuable contributions that benefit us all. The opening of this sensory room is an example of us working as one in our efforts to create a neurodiverse friendly place. With this being the largest sensory room of its kind in Bradford, we can demonstrate that we’re all determined in our efforts to make everyone welcome.”

Sensory rooms allow users to calm down and relieve any stress as well as improve focus by allowing exploration in a safe engaging environment.

Christina Beggan, Asset Management Director at Ellandi, commented: “Incorporating a sensory room at The Broadway isn’t just about providing a space; it’s about creating a haven where every individual, regardless of their specific needs, feels understood and included. It’s about transforming a shopping trip where everyone feels supportive and can enjoy memorable shopping experiences for years to come.  We have always been driven to create an inclusive community for our shopping centres and we are looking forward to shoppers and visitors using this space.”

Chris Morton, MD at SpaceKraft, the company that is fitting out the sensory room said: “With over 30 years’ experience in the special needs market, we were very excited to be asked to collaborate on this project and bring a valuable resource to Bradford and the surrounding area.

“Utilising the latest sensory equipment that SpaceKraft manufactures – Musical Touch Wall, Colour Column, Moodlight – we’ve created a tranquil space, harnessing a beautiful balance of audio, visual and sensory stimulants brough together to optimise relaxation. A great addition to your to do list when visiting The Broadway in Bradford.”

It will be open in line with the centres opening times and managed by The Hub. No booking is needed.

To find out more about the centre, visit www.broadwaybradford.com

Hosted by former MasterChef finalist Exose Grant, the event showcased several of the College’s extensive construction projects, which will soon take shape.

Projects include new £3.5m vocational T Level facilities, a £6.9m refurbishment of the derelict Garden Mills, and the construction of a new £17m Future Technologies Centre on Thornton Road.

Christopher Malish, Bradford College Vice Principal Finance & Corporate Services, opened the dinner by saying, “These projects are a huge boost for the College but also a transformative investment in Bradford that supports the wider city centre development. The new facilities will allow the delivery of curricula designed to address big societal challenges, enrich our local workforce, and showcase a range of inspiring careers.” 

Guest included Lorraine O’Donnell (Bradford Council CEO) and Naz Shah (Bradford West MP), as well as representatives from Couch Perry Wilkes, JCT600, and Bond Bryan. The Sheffield-based architects opened a new academy at the College’s Trinity Green Campus earlier this year with a purpose-built T Level classroom. Bond Bryan will oversee the capital projects while guest lecturing, delivering workshops, and offering site visits and mentoring for construction and engineering students.

Representatives from Tilbury Douglas were also present – the main contractor for Bradford College’s Garden Mills refurbishment. The project will use £5.8m funding from The Office for Students Higher Education Capital Fund, alongside a £1.1m College contribution, to transform the derelict building into a state-of-the-art STEM education facility. Garden Mills will benefit higher education students studying digital, science and allied health subjects.  

Pam Sheldon, Head of Projects at Bradford College, shared plans and drawings for the schemes and said, “This is an exciting time for the College as several of our large capital projects are fully underway. We will be working very closely with our expert contractors over the coming months to ensure we optimise the social value of this work in terms of jobs and investment in the region.” 
 
Alongside a £1.2m college-funded refurbishment of the existing ATC building and new substation installation, these new facilities form part of the ambitious estates strategy – to nurture careers in vital sectors supporting regional economic growth.

Meanwhile, in The Grove training kitchens, Exose Grant (former Masterchef and Bake Off The Professionals finalist) treated guests to a gourmet three-course menu prepared and delivered with Level 3 Catering and Hospitality students.

At the age of 18, Exose started his first professional chef job at James Martin in Manchester and went on to compete in Masterchef: The Professionals 2019 at the age of just 22. Then, in early 2022 at the age of 24, Exose took over the kitchen at BLVD Manchester, creating a variety of new Pan-Asian style menus. Exose’s love for learning and competition saw him enter Bake-Off in 2019.  

The dinner was followed by a question-and-answer session with Exose as guests departed. Service throughout the evening was provided by Level 2 Catering and Hospitality students, under the watchful eyes of lecturer, Richard Barker.

The official launch of IceBurg will take place from 11am and the first 100 customers will get their burger for free.

The gourmet burger brand also sells appetisers and fries as well as shakes, icetails and churros.

Ian Ward, general manager at The Broadway, said: “The much-loved Haute Dolce has undergone a rebrand and Yorkshire’s first IceBurg will be firing up the grill for its grand opening on the 27^th April.

“It’s a fantastic addition to the centre and I already know it will prove very popular with our shoppers.”

Nizam Mohammed, CEO of IceBurg said: “IceBurg is thrilled to be landing at The Broadway in Bradford. We can’t wait to meet the local community and share our delicious gourmet menu with you. In addition to our popular Angus beef burgers and loaded fries, we have several new and exciting dishes to offer, including a range of mouth-watering desserts. Keep an eye on our Instagram page @iceburgofficial for updates.”

To keep up to date with The Broadway, visit their website www.broadwaybradford.com