Welcome to Better Lives Charity
Better Lives is the official charity of Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust (BDCFT). BDCFT is a provider of high quality mental health, community and learning disability services across the Bradford, Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven communities.
Our purpose is to enhance the care the Trust provide, supporting initiatives that improve the lives of patients, service users, carers, volunteers and staff, which cannot be funded through core NHS budgets.
Charity number: 1130011
Upcoming events
Great North Run
We have a team taking on the Great North Run this year to raise funds for Better Lives, including staff members of BDCFT Grainne Eloi, Joanne Smith and David Gibson. Chrissy Dickens and Jonty Bunn are also joining the
team, if you’re able to support any of our runners click on their names to be taken to their individual Just Giving pages. You can also read up on why our runners have taken on the challenge and what it means to them here.
Yorkshire Three Peaks
The annual Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge is a crowd favourite and we’re looking for local people to come and get involved. We are also encouraging walking and 
running groups to join or if it’s been on your own bucket list, it might be the year to tick it off and raise funds for Better Lives in the process. For more information or to register, email betterlivescharity@bdct.nhs.uk.
The Imagination Ball
For the very first time, Better Lives are throwing a black tie mental health Imagination Ball on Friday 13 October. This event is kindly sponsored by Enable2 and will have entertainment, a charity auction, dj and dancing and carriages at midnight. Tables are limited and you can choose between our Platinum package or Gold package, to book your table of 10 email betterlivescharity@bdct.nhs.uk.
How can you support Better Lives?
Fundraising
Better Lives runs many fundraising activities throughout the year that staff, friends, family and people from the local communities can come and get involved in. You can follow us on Twitter and Facebook to keep up to date with Charity news and share your pictures if you have taken part in any activities.
Although we run activities throughout the year, we also like to encourage our staff, service users, friends, families and those from our communities to host their own fundraising activities or events, this can be anything from hosting your own bake sale to taking on your friends in a sponsored danceathon.
A fantastic example of self fundraising for Better Lives is Better Lives Rocks. Sarah Firth has set a target of £3000 to fundraise by the end of 2023 through painting Better Lives Rocks, choose any design and either keep it, gift it or hide it to be found to spread awareness of Better Lives and the work we do.
JustGiving
Donations of any amount are always welcome through the Better Lives JustGiving page and it’s a great page to look at for fundraising inspiration by looking at the activities that have run previously.
Charity Trustee
Better Lives is the official charity of Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust and the Trust operates as a Corporate Trustee for the Charity. The responsibility for the management and use of the funds held lies with the board of the Trust.
Hear how Better Lives has made a difference to our carers: