A £746,000 community centre in Bradford aimed at boosting health, employment, parenting and community relationships will open this weekend.

The Millside Centre, on Grattan Road, is open to anyone in the city and will focus on tackling unemployment, homelessness, mental health issues, learning English, raising children, health and diet, among other things.

The centre has teamed up with British Red Cross, Bradford Council, the NHS, Hidden Homeless and Bradford Family Support Network to run the services under one roof. It will also employ community workers to go out on the streets of the city to bring people through the doors.

Project manager Catharine Parker-Littler said: “This is an ambitious project and something of a first – but it’s our aim to transform lives and even a whole city. Everything we are doing is very carefully thought through, based on local research and hinges around giving people confidence and a sense of responsibility for themselves, their health and their career.

“We hope that by the time centre-users leave the building, they’ve gained knowledge that they can practically apply every time, so it’s a completely different approach – helping them help themselves.

“There are so many people out there that need help and support, but either don’t know it is available or are worried about accessing it. That’s what we want to change, and by working with partner agencies, we can have a real impact on the lives of hundreds, if not thousands of people in the future.

“It’s also about bringing people together in a safe space and breaking down walls and isolation that can be, in some instances, generations old. The city of Bradford is greatest when its people all come together – the city is on the up, and our project is a cog in that bigger machine.”

Big Lottery cash helped transform a derelict floor into the new centre. Charity Reach Beyond made the successful bid.

Trial sessions at the centre included knit and natter groups attended by woman from Libya, Syria, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Congo.

The centre will open for the first time on Saturday, from 11am to 4pm. 

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