A Bradford company has given £50,000 to charities and community groups across Yorkshire, the first of six donations during 2014 set to total more than £500,000.

The charitable trust of Sovereign Health Care has announced the first 26 recipients of the money, including various Bradford district organisations.

Jo Habib, the trust’s co-ordinator, said the not-for-profit company looked to support both local causes improving the health and well-being of people in Bradford, or national, health-related charities that provided a clear benefit to the region.

“We’re proud to have donated more than £4 million to good causes in the last seven years,” she said.

“Bradford is an area of serious deprivation and structural health inequalities, but it’s a privilege to help charities and voluntary groups tackle problems, improve the lives of disadvantaged and vulnerable people, and provide opportunities and facilities that transform everyone’s quality of life.

“The donations we’ve made in the past have helped achieve significant results.”

Deafblind UK, an organisation that supports individuals with sight and hearing loss, including 12,000 people across West Yorkshire, has been granted £5,000 to help fund a home-based post in the Bradford area. The new role will involve providing homes visits to deafblind people and the recruitment and training of volunteer befrienders.

Another organisation to benefit from a major donation is the BD4 Community Trust, which is receiving £4,000 to support its BD4 Family project.

The charity supports 130 young families and older people in deprived areas, concentrating on parts of East Bowling, by running play groups, sessions for parents and holiday activities, and providing home visits.

Idle Exercisers, a mixed group of people aged 50 or over, have received £1,000 to help continue their weekly physical fitness routines.

The largest amount in the first round of donations was given to Prostate Cancer UK, which received £7,500 to help pay for its new community support service in Yorkshire and the North-East.

For more information on Sovereign Health Care’s charitable trust, including how to apply for a donation, visit sovereignhealthcare.co.uk.