A CHARITY which helps Bradford's recovering addicts has been boosted by a share of the Big Lottery Fund's latest round of grants.

The Bridge Project, based in Salem Street, has been awarded £9,670 to pay for a new minibus, it was announced yesterday.

The vehicle will take people experiencing substance misuse to social activities and events. It is aimed at reducing their isolation and also improve access to recovery activities, to help reduce the risk of relapse.

The minibus will also be used for a project called 4 Women. This will see The Bridge staff use the vehicle to travel at night to Bradford's red-light districts to speak to prostitutes to help them get off the streets.

Mr Royle said: "The minibus is going to be hugely important and our staff have been asking for it for a long time.

"I'm really pleased that we have got this funding as we could not have afforded it without the grant.

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"The minibus will help make those who use it more mobile and help their recovery.

"It helps them to get outside in the community too and engage with them too."

A total of 64 projects across Yorkshire and the Humber have been awarded a share of a £576,444 grants, with funds given ranging from £300 to £10,000.

Other Bradford projects to benefit include Core Skills Coaching C.I.C, handed £9,930 for their 'Opportunity Knocks - Man Up' in Bradford.

The cash will be spent on delivering a twice weekly training and development programme for 20 youngsters aged 14 to 16, who are at risk of engaging in anti-social behaviour and of exclusion from school.

Relate Bradford has been handed £9,952 for its Relate Switched On project.

The cash will fund IT equipment and provide training for staff so that the organisation can offer therapeutic interventions online and for the charity to help more people online.

St Anthony's Catholic Primary School, Bradford Road, Clayton, has received a £9,980 boost for its 'Health is Wealth' scheme. This offers health and sporting activities including archery, dodge ball and nutrition sessions.

Sports Campaign Against Racism (SCAR) has received £9,980 for its Skills to Pay the Bills scheme to offer soft skills workshops for youngsters to improve their confidence and teamwork skills.

Horton Grange Primary School gets £9,756 for its Mini Physical Family Fun scheme, while Bradford's 16-2-25 Outreach Project receives £9,026 and Holycroft Primary School in Keighley gets £10,000 for its all-weather surface. STAR Youth Project has been given the same amount for building work on a new youth centre in Keighley.

St John's CE Primary School, Dawson Lane, Bradford, has won £9,162 for its 'One Team, One Vision, One Goal' project.

The scheme, run with Bradford-based charity e:merge, will give a weekly after-school sports sessions for pupils which will lead to inter-school competitions.

It will offer volunteering opportunities for parents and children with coaching and mentoring support and activities to develop their teamwork.

Lesley Burton, St John's School's business manager, said: "We are extremely pleased that we have been awarded the grant so that e.merge can enable for it to give better life chances for the children."

The Cellar Trust, based in Fairfield Road, Shipley, has been given £9,480 to develop its services.

Bradford Sub Aqua Club will use its £7,820 grant on refurbishing its premises in Queensbury, including the installation of a disabled access toilet and new training rooms.