Sophie Fraser, Creative Lives' Place Coordinator, spoke to Mahum Fatima from SEND Salaam and Lucy Dix of Summat Creative about coming together to apply for a Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture 'Do Your Thing' micro-grant. 

Send Salaam knew they wanted to deliver something creative for children with additional support needs, but there was a challenge: while they had the passion, experience, ideas and community connections, they lacked some of the structures, networks, and safeguarding requirements needed to make it happen.

That’s where Summat Creative came in . . .

“We knew about Summat Creative through our parent support group," says Mahum. "They were already doing brilliant things with children with additional needs. We realised we had shared goals: boosting confidence, supporting creativity, and opening up opportunities for children who often don’t get access to these activities.”

From the start, SEND Salaam and Summat Creative worked well together. Summat Creative provided guidance on application forms, planning, and networking, and introduced an artist with specialist experience of working with children with SEND (special educational needs and disabilities).

“I had run creative activities before but didn’t have the artist network, especially those who knew how to work with children who need extra support," says Mahum. "Lucy’s knowledge and experience really shone through.” 

Roles were clearly defined: Summat Creative supported the application, planning, safeguarding, and risk assessments, while SEND Salaam took the lead on delivery in schools, engaging families from minority communities and workshop planning.

“It felt great to be able to share our experience and support the more technical aspects of delivering a project," says Lucy. "Those are the parts that can put people off from applying for funding, as it can feel a bit daunting. Because we have all those systems already in place it made sense for us to provide support in this area.”

What made the partnership work

Both groups agree that communication and transparency were key to success. Regular planning sessions, keeping everyone in the loop, and clear email trails helped avoid misunderstandings. Just as importantly, both organisations shared the same passion for creative accessibility.

“So many creative activities aren’t accessible to children with SEND, especially in city areas facing deprivation," says Manum. "This project showed what’s possible when you put accessibility first.”

Overcoming challenges

Not everything was straightforward. Recruiting volunteers, particularly those with enhanced DBS checks, proved difficult - which is why the first project was based in a school setting. But working with schools also brought challenges, with delays and difficulties in communication. There were positives too - SEND Salaam chose Girlington Primary to host the workshop, as the group wanted to engage the Polish community in that area and provide creative opportunities for the kids and families there. 

The learning? Next time, SEND Salaam would like to run activities in community centres, where parents can also take part and help sustain the impact at home.

Learning from each other

The collaboration was a huge success, with both organisations learning from each other. SEND Salaam benefitted from Summat Creative’s structures and networks, while Summat Creative gained new insights into working with minority communities and understanding barriers such as language, cultural awareness, and the shortage of SEND trained artists.

“We both learned a lot from each other," says Manum, "from fair pay for artists to building SEND awareness. It was a very compatible way of working.”  

“Partnership working is really beneficial for us too," agrees Lucy. "We know we have limited reach in many communities in Bradford, and working wirh SEND Salaam has helped us to reach communities that we wouldn’t usually be able to. Working with other practitioners who have a different set of knowledge and experience allows us to challenge our own assumptions and learn from the process, too.”

Advice for other groups

For community groups considering partnerships, SEND Salaam recommend:

• Start with a conversation - see if your goals and values align.
• Define responsibilities early - and confirm things in writing to avoid confusion.
• Share resources and learning - from marketing help to grant funding.
• Be transparent - honest communication builds trust.

Looking ahead

Both groups see potential for future collaborations, with SEND Salaam already applying for new funding opportunities. “Smaller grants can actually go a long way," says Mahum, "and make a huge difference.” While Lucy hopes this is just the start of their relationship. "I really hope we can do more of this," she says. "It helps us all grow, and the more opportunities we can provide across Bradford the better."