BRADFORD City is kicking off a new £20,000 campaign to help forces veterans from the district to combat isolation.

The club’s Community Foundation will launch Bradford Ex Forces Together on Wednesday, February 7, between 10am and 11.30am, at the 2013 Suite at Valley Parade.

The project aims to combat social isolation in former members of any of the Armed Forces who live in the Bradford district. The scheme will also provide social activities for those who sign up.

The sessions will be held every Wednesday following the launch event, initially at Valley Parade, but organisers hope to spread it out to other venues across the Bradford district for future sessions.

Activities at the initial sessions may include tours of Valley Parade and trips to see the Bantams play.

The project has been funded by a £20,000 grant from the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) Armed Forces Covenant. This is a promise from the nation that those who serve or have served, and their families, are treated fairly. The MoD works with businesses, local authorities, charities and community organisations to support the forces through services, policy and projects.

Organisers hope the sessions will attract both men and women who have served in the Armed Forces.

Paula Helliwell, Bradford City Community Foundation’s project manager, said: “We know there will be people from our district who served in the Armed Forces who now feel isolated and are quite lonely.

“They will want to get together and find new friendships.

“We are using football as a hub and a place for people to get to know others.

“Hopefully people will come along. We have been in touch with the Bradford branch of the Royal British Legion and the Yorkshire Regiment.

“The launch will give people a chance to find out more about the project.

“We are going to have a few events here at Valley Parade to get to know everyone who wants to get involved.

“It will give people the chance to share their experiences and offer support to each other.

“We will look to do one-off events that people want to come to.”

Tobias Ellwood, of Minister for Defence People and Veterans, said: “It is great to see Bradford City FC Community Foundation using their Armed Forces Covenant grant to bring the community together to support our veterans.  

“The grant was made from the annual £10 million Covenant Fund which supports projects across the UK ensuring our personnel, veterans, and their families are treated fairly and do not suffer any disadvantage because of their service”.

It is the latest community project set up by the foundation after it was granted £34,000 for a scheme to attract more ethnic minority supporters. One City - Building a Stronger Britain Together, which started last year, aims to encourage more members of the black and minority ethnic (BME) communities to become Bantams fans.

It hopes to start Bradford City supporters’ clubs for different ethnic minorities in the district, including people originally from Eastern Europe and refugees.

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The project will hold a number of events throughout this year and bonding sessions with these supporters at City home games.

The cash for the project has been granted by the Home Office’s Building A Stronger Britain Fund.

Email paula.helliwell@gmail.com to book a place at the launch event.