Support our charity
Better Lives is the official charity of Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust.
The Trust is a provider of high quality mental health, community and learning disability services across the Bradford, Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven communities.
Our charity’s purpose is to enhance the care that the Trust provides. We support initiatives that improve the lives of patients, service users, carers, volunteers and staff that cannot be funded through core NHS budgets.
Our registered charity number is 1130011.
How can you support us?
Fundraising
Our charity, Better Lives, runs many fundraising activities throughout the year, including an annual charity golf day that staff, friends, family and people from the local communities can get involved in. We also like to encourage our staff, service users, friends, families and people from our local communities to host their own fundraising activities or events. This can be anything from hosting your own bake sale to taking on a sponsored hiking challenge.
JustGiving
Donations of any amount are always welcome through the Better Lives JustGiving page. This is also a great place to look for fundraising inspiration – you can see activities that have run previously.
Our purpose, aim, vision and values
Our purpose
Our purpose is to enhance the care provided by Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust through charitable activity.
Our vision
Our vision is to create better lives by improving the physical and mental wellbeing of our patients, service users and families through charitable activity.
Our charitable aims
Our aims are to create better lives by:
- Improving service user experience and outcomes.
- Improving our care (or caring) environments.
- Enabling our staff to enhance their knowledge and skills.
- Any other activity which supports the mission and vision of the charity.
Our values
Our values are linked to the Trust’s own values:
We Care: We act with respect and empathy, and always value difference.
We Listen: We understand people’s views and respond to their individual needs.
We Deliver: We use donations wisely to make a positive difference.
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 Trust board.
Get involved
The charity runs a variety of fundraising events throughout the year.
Whether you love running, walking, golfing, quizzing, dancing, paddling, playing football, getting creative – or even walking on fire – there’s something for everyone!
Click here to explore our upcoming events or email betterlivescharity@bdct.nhs.uk to find out more.
Funded projects
Breaking down barriers for travel
Through the Bike project, we provide bike bundles, including helmets, locks, and lights, to individuals supported by our New Arrivals and Care Leavers teams. These bikes support physical and mental wellbeing, whilst also ensuring individuals can attend medical appointments, education, employment, and gain more independence.
In partnership with Shipley Active Travel Hub and Capital of Cycling, recipients also receive free cycling training and bike maintenance sessions.
This project has been made possible thanks to generous funding from Esh Construction.
Supporting patients and their families with terminal illness
The charity funds a range of practical and compassionate initiatives to support people living with a terminal illness and their families.
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Comfort at home
Families caring for a loved one at home can borrow a rise recliner chair – our feedback found that families expressed gratitude for the comfort this provided for their family member at a critical time. -
Helping young people understand
‘Pip Kits’ are an age-appropriate resource for children and young people where a parent or carer has incurable cancer or is receiving end-of-life care. These kits support families through difficult conversations. -
Supporting with peace of mind
The charity has loaned baby monitors with two-way audio to families caring for end-of-life patients within their own homes. These devices offer reassurance to carers – especially those who are alone – allowing them to rest knowing they can always hear the patient. They also offer reassurance to the patients who can call for assistance at any point. -
Access for care teams
The charity also provides key safes to ensure health and care staff can access patients’ homes safely. In cases where families are unable to afford one, charitable funds ensure that vital care is not delayed or compromised.
Artist in Residence
The Artist in Residence project at Lynfield Mount Hospital and Airedale Centre for Mental Health delivered over 80 creative sessions, providing vital therapeutic engagement during a challenging period of increased isolation caused by COVID restrictions.
Local organisations, Hive Bradford, Keighley Creative, School of Rock and Media, and Dubit Limited, shared their specialist skills in DJ’ing, video game design, drumming, pottery, and printmaking. This helped reconnect medical inpatient units to the wider community and introduce staff and service users to specialist art skills.
The project also supplied music production equipment to support our music therapists, further enhancing creative therapy options.
The sessions had a notable positive impact on mood and wellbeing, with staff reporting lasting benefits beyond each session. Patients expressed feeling relaxed, calm, and proud of their creative achievements:
This project was generously funded by a grant from the Keith Howard Foundation.