Community Spirit In Bradford

Construction work for the replacement Farrow Medical Centre continues on programme with completion due this summer. The locally based contractor, Bermar Building, having made contact with all the local community groups and site neighbours before works commenced, has been rewarded by the strength of community spirit generated by the construction of the new surgery.

Firstly on two recent occasions, the neighbouring Mosque, run by the Imam Abu Ali, offered the Bermar workforce a much welcomed selection of traditional Islamic hot food for lunch. As you can imagine the workforce were extremely grateful as the food made a change to the usual lunchtime snacks. In return the workmen offered to undertake some garden work for the Mosque.

Abu Ali who grew up in the community, took charge of the former PCT clinic building just over 2 years ago which is now a busy Mosque offering both a place of worship and education for the families in the area.

Secondly, Bermar’s Community Co- ordinator has been working with the staff and children of the Community Works Children’s Centre located opposite the site. The children were invited to create their own “Site Safety” poster and the winning entries are now on display on the sites hoarding along the Otley Road frontage. The children are now aware of the potential dangers a building site can offer and they have been invited to visit the site to see how the construction works take place.

The Mosque along with the whole community is looking forward to the opening of the much larger Farrow Medical Centre in the summer which will significantly add to the already strong community spirit.