A BRADFORD charity is providing emergency support to the children and young people most at risk of harm as a result of coronavirus.

QED Foundation is working with children’s charity, Barnardo's, to identify vulnerable and isolated youngsters, who are not accessing help from statutory agencies.

It is offering a telephone helpline, online counselling and therapy and access to interactive resources including advice and information as part of the nationwide See, Hear, Respond service.

The programme is primarily designed to maintain social distancing, but those facing the greatest challenges (such as criminal exploitation or abuse) may be offered face-to-face support.

Help will also be available for families in crisis.

QED Foundation founder and chief executive, Dr Mohammed Ali OBE, declared his delight at Barnardo's selecting the charity to be one of its delivery partners.

He said: "Nearly one in four children in our district lives in poverty and the situation is worse for those who come from an ethnic minority background or a disadvantaged neighbourhood.

"The coronavirus pandemic has hit these communities particularly hard."

"Now, more than ever, it is vital that we give their children and young people the help they need to keep them healthy and safe and enable them to go back to school and build a successful future."

QED Foundation is working with Girlington Community Centre and the Sangat Centre in Keighley to support 1,000 individuals who face particular hardship as a result of the pandemic.

The charity will also be joining forces with Nurture Academies Trust, which runs six primary schools in the Bradford district, to help pupils who will find it most difficult to return to education.

It will have a particular focus on working with BAME and refugee communities, but it will support youngsters from all ethnic backgrounds up to the age of 18.

The main focus is the Bradford district, but help will be given to others in the West Yorkshire region.

See, Hear, Respond is funded by the Department for Education.

The findings of the programme will be used to shape strategies to enable the nation to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

Youngsters, parents, carers and professionals can make a referral using an online form at: barnardos.org.uk/see-hear-respond