A BRADFORD homeless charity closed its doors today after nearly four decades of helping needy people in the city.

The Blenheim Project, based in Oak Lane, Manningham, helped vulnerable, homeless women and children by providing support to prevent them from becoming permanently homeless.

Bosses of the project blamed the closure on "funding pressures" affecting the way Bradford Council supports homeless people in the district.

The charity, which has been running for 37 years said it had enjoyed success over the years, supporting thousands of people.

A statement from Blenheim said: "Due to pressures in funding Bradford Council can no longer support as many homeless people as before and have drastically reduced both the number of places they will fund and also the level of funding for each place."

Isis Carrasco, business manager at Blenheim, said: “The problem is that the Council is not guaranteeing business, the funding will be reduced, and the number of units – such as the Blenheim Project – the council is providing funding for is being reduced.

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“As a result of this we are unable to continue.

“Since 1988, the Blenheim Project has provided support for over 2,000 women and 1,132 children,” said Isis.

“Now only the most vulnerable women are going to be supported, and not everyone is going to qualify for help.”

This uncertainty around funding, along with the reduction in the amount of funding, has meant that Blenheim can no longer provide the high standard of support for vulnerable women and children that they need.

Council policy now focuses on housing high-risk clients, for whom Blenheim does not have suitable accommodation, and the charity is no longer allowed to assess the needs and risks of the clients it supports.

Naz Shah MP, Bradford West, said: “The Blenheim project has supported thousands of women over the years and it’s a travesty that this project is closing its doors.”

She also said that projects like Blenheim should contact the council and their MPs, who will work as hard as possible to maintain localised provision, but it was unfortunate that Blenheim could not be saved.

A Bradford Council spokesman said: “We understand Blenheim as an independent organisation undertook a strategic review of their business.

“Having considered their current business and the likely future opportunities to secure new business they took the decision to wind the operation up.

“The Council is naturally saddened to see such a longstanding local organisation close, but understand and respect their decision.”

*To celebrate the achievements of the charity and to thank all those who have helped the project, Blenheim will be holding a party from 3pm to 6pm on Saturday, October 3.

Service users, friends, supporters, trustees, staff and members of allied organisations will be invited to the party, which will also be attended by the Lord Mayor, at Heaton St Barnabas Village Hall, Ashwell Road.