A positive new service for young people and communities in Bradford is taking shape after its official start yesterday.

Shaping Spaces is the latest project by the Bradford Environmental Education Service (BEES) and follows its Community Space Challenge (CSC) programme that has been running for more than five years in and around the city.

The people behind Shaping Spaces want to work with young people and communities around Bradford to improve outdoor spaces for residents and wildlife.

It was debuted at Culture Fusion in Bradford yesterday with a series of talks on the project and a promotional film.

Rachel Deadman and Rob Ashford will run the scheme, with the help of a team.

“We are looking to create happy young people who are gaining confidence and seeing that they can contribute,” said Mrs Deadman. “Hopefully, they will be shaping their communities and shaping the lives of young people.”

Speaking about the scheme’s start, Mrs Deadman said: “I am happy with how it went. It is now about developing partnerships, and partnerships that will lead to contract work. It is about fitting in to Bradford.”

The Shaping Spaces programme will see young people taking part in projects that gain them skills in areas such as construction, planting, art and clean-ups, that could be deemed useful by prospective local employers.

It will be split into two parts. One part will concentrate on working with people aged 16 to 25, who are not in employment, education or training, and live in Fagley or Ravenscliffe.

Mrs Deadman said: “We will work with these young people to make physical improvements to green spaces, liaising with local residents and organisations about what work we undertake.

“This will give the young people the opportunity to learn new skills and to experience something of the world of work and the responsibility of being part of a team whilst improving life skills and confidence.”

Part two will see the project undertaking contract work to make improvements to green spaces, targeting schools, organisations and businesses.

Mrs Deadman said: “We intend working on these contracts with local people and other volunteers and, eventually, with young people from our programme work, giving them quality work experience and providing references and support where necessary to help them into work or training.

To find out more about BEES, visit bees-ymca.org.uk or facebook.com/ BEESBradford.