‘Swap Your Shop’ is a fundraising activity enabling you to support a Bradford based charity, the Anchor Project, whilst gaining a first-hand insight into the issues faced by people on low incomes. The challenge is to live on a significantly low food budget for a week, similar to those living in poverty in the UK. The challenge cannot exactly replicate what it’s like to live on a very low income, but it does give an insight into the realities faced by people who are struggling right now.

The Anchor Project is a small, local charity that has been supporting people in inner-city Bradford since 2004. The Anchor Project is based in St Clement’s Church, Barkerend Road, BD3 and works to support the journeys of marginalised communities, helping and equipping people to improve their wellbeing, skills, knowledge and resilience. Each week the Anchor Project runs a lunch and activity session for older people, an asylum seeker and refugee drop-in, two English classes and a wellbeing group for local residents, as well as providing general assistance for anyone passing by and dropping in. The 2023 Swap Your Shop raised over £4,700 helping to provide a continued programme of activities and support.

Bradford Festival Choral Society have been honoured to partner with The Anchor Project over the last 2-3 years to share the joy and community of their concerts with those The Anchor Project support, and are delighted to be able to support in this thought-provoking initiative.