THREE community groups based in the Bradford district have been named among a select band of projects set to receive a prestigious royal award next month.

The Bradford South and West Live at Home Scheme, Shipley's Hirst Wood Regeneration Group, and the Friends of Prince of Wales Park in Bingley, will be presented with the Duke of York's Community Initiative, an accolade open to community projects based in Yorkshire.

The award reflects the outstanding contribution made by groups who are seen to be making "a very real difference" to the community in which they work, acting as "an inspiration to others."

A record number of fourteen West Yorkshire-based groups are included in the 43 organisations who have achieved a 2014 award, including The Courthouse Project in Otley and projects in Halifax, Leeds, Wakefield, Huddersfield, and Castleford.

To receive the award, each group is given a rigorous assessment of the services they provide, and if they meet the required standard, they become eligible to receive both practical support and mentoring from the Initiative’s in-house Talent Bank and money for new projects via the scheme’s Innovation Fund.

The Bradford South and West Live at Home Scheme currently has 489 members and more than 60 volunteers working from its base at the Salvation Army building in Wibsey.

The project, which has been running since November 1995, offers a range of social activities and befriending support for people aged 60 and above still living in their own homes.

Yolly Kaye, manager of the scheme, said the group, which also operates out of St Johns RC in Buttershaw and Clayton Methodist Church, provided a vital service for its members.

"Our activities really help to reduce social isolation," she said.

"We've got lots of people who have rekindled old friendships, which is great to see.

"Sometimes people take a bit of persuading to come along at first, but once they do, they never look back.

"We hadn't actually heard that we'd been successful until today, but it's really nice to get that recognition."

Within the next three weeks, representatives from each of the 43 groups will meet for a presentation ceremony and lunch at the Magna Science Adventure Centre near Rotherham at which HRH the Duke of York will present them with their awards.

As well as the royal recognition of their excellence, benefits of receiving the award also include use of the royal logo, and business management support via workshops, mentoring and networking opportunities.