Mayor's arts charity to help young talent thrive

New Lord Mayor of Bradford Bev Mullaney wants to help young people during her year in office

Talented young people in Bradford will get help and financial support to launch careers in music, drama and the arts from a new charity.

Councillor Bev Mullaney, the city's new Lord Mayor, has set up the Ambition Academy as part of Bradford 2025.

Mrs Mullaney, who spent 40 years as a community worker, said she wants her new project to ensure children and young adults can "fly high".

It is aimed at supporting those wishing to work in creative industries by helping them to access grants and funding.

The Ambition Academy aims to help Bradford's young people "fly high"

Mrs Mullaney, who took up her post on Tuesday, said: "I have come across marvellous talents, people who can play the piano, singing, dancing, however they do not have the money or grants available to help them move further."

The Ambition Academy will be the Lord Mayor's official appeal for the 2024/2025 municipal year, with a series of fundraisers to be held over the coming months and the public encouraged to adopt the charity.

Mrs Mullaney said she was "very, very excited" to take on the ceremonial role of Lord Mayor and "can't wait" to get started.

"Being given a platform to speak about my city is such an honour and a privilege," she said.

Before going into local politics, and representing the Thornton and Allerton area where she has lived since she was nine, Mrs Mullaney ran youth groups, family camps, a neighbourhood nursery plus after-school and breakfast clubs.

Bradford Council Leader Susan Hinchcliffe said Mrs Mullaney was a "people person first and foremost".

"She's very passionate about disadvantaged young people and how to give them the best start in life, and she has done that literally for hundreds and thousands of families," she added.

Bradford Lord Mayor Bev Mullaney with her new deputy Mohammed Shafiq