BRADFORD'S new Lord Mayor has revealed the two charities the civic appeal will benefit this year.

Councillor Zafar Ali, who was being formally installed during the annual mayor-making ceremony at City Hall this morning, has chosen to support Bradford Nightstop and Manorlands Hospice.

He is appealing to the people, businesses and communities of the Bradford district to join him in supporting these causes.

Bradford Nightspot provides homeless 16 to 25 year olds with safe, ‘one night at a time’ accommodation in the homes of trained volunteers.

The charity has been going 25 years, working across the whole of the district to support young people and prevent rough sleeping. This year the charity will expand its pioneering work into neighbouring areas that are currently without a similar service.

Manorlands is a Sue Ryder hospice, based in Oxenhope. The hospice provides care and complementary therapies for people aged 18 and over with life-limiting conditions, and support for their family and friends.

Their specialist care teams support people in the hospice and in their own homes, focussing on quality of life. Last year they cared for 850 people from the surrounding area.

Cllr Ali said: "I care about helping people during their whole life. During my mayoral year I want to bring this balance of helping young people get a better start to their adult life, while also supporting those people who are coming to the end of their life.

“The Bradford Nightstop charity provides a lifeline for some of our young people when they are at their most vulnerable. Manorlands Hospice helps people and their families through what can be the most difficult and frightening time in their life.

"What both these charities have in common is they are dedicated to serving people in their hour of need.”

Cllr Ali represents Keighley Central for the Conservatives, after first becoming a district councillor in 2007. He has previously spoken of his pride after being chosen by his party as the next Lord Mayor of Bradford.

He is understood to be the first Conservative British-Pakistani Lord Mayor in the north.

The mayor making ceremony forms part of the annual meeting of Bradford Council, which began at 10.30am this morning.