BRADFORD has become part of a national network to help combat people’s isolation and bring communities together.

The Places of Welcome scheme will be led in the Bradford district by a partnership between Bradford Council and Wellsprings Together, a Bradford faith-based action group supported by the Anglican Diocese of Leeds, with 11 already set up at churches and community centres, but more encouraged to be set up.

Places of Welcome is a network of small community organisations, including faith communities, who offer an unconditional welcome to people for at least a few hours a week.

The aim of the network is to create spaces where people can feel safe and belong.

The scheme started in Birmingham and there are now more than 150 places of welcome across England and Wales including Sunderland, Kidderminster in Worcestershire and Swanage, Dorset.

Places of Welcome in Bradford was launched at an event held in the Council’s chamber at City Hall yesterday.

The Bishop of Bradford, the Right Reverend Toby Howarth, said: “It can be difficult to join a group of strangers and the added barriers of entering a community of faith-based buildings may prevent people accessing the support that could potentially reduce their loneliness.

“We have got to make spaces where we can get out and meet one another as human beings. It’s really crucial.

“This city needs common space. We we do get together in a shared space, that is a fabric that we can bear the weight of tricky times. It is about welcoming people from all faiths.”

Sally Sutcliffe, who has helped run a weekly session at St James Church, Bolton, Bradford, since August last year, said: “It has just grown. It is a shared space for people.

“It’s different every week and you don’t know what’s going to happen.”

The existing services in the Bradford district are held on Mondays at Lidget Green Walking Club, Lidget Place, between 10am and noon; St Paul’s Church, St Paul’s Avenue, Wibsey, from 1pm to 3pm; St Paul’s Church, Church Street, Manningham, from 1pm to 3pm; St John the Divine Church, Idlethorpe Way, Thorpe Edge, from 1pm to 3pm; St Paul’s Church, St Paul’s Avenue, Wibsey, from 10.30am to 12.30pm; St Cuthbert’s Church, Wrose Road, Wrose, between 12.30pm and 3pm and St James Church, Bolton Road, Bolton, Bradford, from 3pm to 4.30pm.

On Tuesdays, sessions take place at St Philip’s Church, Thorn Street, Girlington, from 10am to noon; Clayton Methodist Church, Clayton Lane, Clayton, from 10am to noon. On Wednesday, at St Margaret’s Church, Shipley Fields Road, Frizinghall, between 10am and noon. On Thursdays, at Clayton Community Centre, Tanton Walk, Clayton, from 10am to noon and on Fridays at St Matthew’s Church, Main Street, Wilsden, from 10am and noon.

All Places of Welcome around the Bradford district will share the same logos so they can be easily recognised by anybody wishing to use them.

Go to placesofwelcome.org for more information on the project.