What was Bradford Resource Centre?
Bradford Resource Centre (BRC) was a not-for-profit organisation managed by an elected group of representatives of community-based organisations. It was an infrastructural support organisation (ISO) for community and voluntary organisations. BRC’s aim was to increase the effectiveness and capacity of community and campaign groups through the provision of training, information, organisational support, reprographic, and other facilities. BRC’s services included a community issues-based library; training in information and research, welfare rights and organisational development; meeting space; access to IT and economical printing. BRC was well-utilised by groups and individuals representing a wide range of community concerns and as well as servicing existing organisations, BRC helped initiate new groups and networks.
From its inception in 1979, BRC developed a reputation for being accessible and welcoming to a wide range of small community groups, particularly those who were excluded or suffering discrimination. Over the years, BRC worked in partnership with others taking the lead in launching a variety of innovative projects such as BIASAN (the support and campaign network for local refugees and migrant workers), the Bradford Centre Against Unemployment, Bradford Occupational Health Project (which provided information advice and support on hazards at work to local people and local trade union branches), the schools and youth centres anti-racist project, the Advice Work Training Project (which trained volunteers to undertake welfare rights advice), and the Low Pay Project (research and legal advice on low pay and employment matters).
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