THE chaplaincy service at Bradford’s criminal courts wants to restart the buildings’ cafe service.

National cuts forced the closure of canteens at Bradford Crown Court and Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court in 2015.

Now, the Bradford Court Chaplaincy Service (BCCS), of which Mary Carroll is chairman, has put out a wanted list for a number of people to help them provide refreshments for the defendants, witnesses, jurors, barristers, solicitors and visitors.

A spokesman for BCCS said: “First and foremost on the hit list compiled by Bradford Court Chaplaincy Service is a committed and enthusiastic person to run a Café Project as a social enterprise.”

Initially, the enterprise would be housed in the Bradford Combined Courts Centre, in Exchange Square, although the BCCS has also been asked by the Courts and Tribunal Service to do a similar project at the magistrates court.

The BSCC spokesman said: “Court proceedings are often stressful for all concerned, so there is much concern that individuals who are waiting to go into court in a variety of capacities (witnesses, defendants, supporters, lawyers and jurors) have no access to refreshments of any kind on the premises.

“At present both courts do have kitchens and café seating areas which it is hoped will be used in the project. In addition to a full-time supervisor to run the café, local church and charitable groups are being targeted to see if they would take responsibility for ‘staffing’ a particular session on a weekly or fortnightly basis.”

The spokesman added: “We are appealing to any church, mosque or other organisation which would be willing to provide three or four volunteers on a fixed and regular basis - weekly or fortnightly - to get in touch.”

Funding to establish the project and cover a supervisor’s salary is in place for the first two years.

Details and application forms for the supervisor’s job, and details on the project are available from Ruth Smith on 01274 722422 (10am to 3pm, Tuesday to Friday) or by emailing info@bradfordcourt chaplaincy.org.uk.

The closing date is noon on Friday, March 24.

The spokesman for the chaplaincy service said they were “pleased” with the number of applications received so far, which was said to be “quite a few”.

They added: “I am not sure how many applications we have had, but the committee will be dealing with it and any suitable candidates will be invited to interview.”

BCCS offers services to those accused of committing crime, those affected by crime and the criminal justice process, and those who deal with distressing and difficult cases on a daily basis.

Its president Lord Kamlesh Patel has previously said that the chaplaincy is an “invaluable, innovative and much-needed service in Bradford”.