MORE than £1.5 million has been handed out to groups across the Bradford district.

Eleven groups will benefit from the The Big Lottery Fund giveaway, with one group landing a grant of almost £750,000 and another almost £470,000.

A project called Improving Your Life, run by Reach Beyond, received £746,345 to convert the empty ground floor of its building in Grattan Street, Bradford, into a community services centre.

The venue, run by the Christian charity, will provide support for vulnerable members of society, including working with charities on homelessness, addiction and mental health problems.

More than £400,000 of the Reaching Communities cash will be used on the refurbishment and the rest will fund the first two years of the project, due to open in November 2016.

The chief executive of Reach Beyond, Colin Lowther, said: "We're absolutely overjoyed. It's all really exciting. We want to create a central place for people to come to in the centre of Bradford."

Bradford Women's Aid has been given £468,937 for its Empower 2015 scheme.

The project will support 1,300 women and children who often become homeless and financially insecure through domestic violence.

It will fund eight support workers including a new lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender post.

Sally Deane, director of Bradford Women's Aid, said: "It's fantastic and a huge boost for our organisation."

The group was one of 88 across Yorkshire and the Humber receiving a share of £3.1m.

Elsewhere, Cafe West Healthy Living Centre in Allerton is receiving £266,059 for its HUB Project. The new scheme, to be launched later this month, will aim to transform the care and support for vulnerable older people in Allerton and Lower Grange. It will create a network of carers and activities to connect with isolated older people.

Cafe West manager Julie McCann said: "If we didn't have the funding, this project would not run sufficiently."

Other recipients in the Big Lottery Fund's Reaching Communities category included Arts for Hearts' Sake, given £10,000 to deliver therapeutic art sessions, run by St Anthony's Project for Homeless Addicts, in Clover Hall, Bradford.

The University of Bradford was awarded £10,000 to enhance its Fringe Festival - British Science Festival 2015.

The Hidden Homeless Ltd, Bradford Day Shelter, was given £9,954 for its A4A - Your Next Step - Supporting Positive Change. It will fund a mentor to work with vulnerable adults who have completed life skills courses with the organisation.

Margaret McMillan Children's Centre's Football for Tots receives £9,986 to offer a free pre-school soccer and fitness class.

Crossley Hall Primary School, in Thornton Road, Bradford, will use its £9,982 grant to create a learning space including a sensory garden.

Leading the Community, run by Bradford Warriors FC, will spend £9,650 funding for a leadership skills training academy for youngsters in East Bowling.

Lothersdale Village Hall Trust will spend its £7,000 grant to repair the village hall roof in Rook Street, Keighley.

Bradford African Women Health Awareness, run by the Our Project, will use £865 to hold an HIV awareness family fun day for members of the African community.