More than £1.2 million of Government funding will go to regeneration group Bradford Trident this year, it was confirmed yesterday.

Trident works in the West Bowling, Marshfields and Park Lane areas of the city.

It is part of the Government's New Deal for Communities programme, which started seven years ago with a £50m grant over ten years.

Its aim was to help boost job opportunities, raise educational achievements and reduce levels of crime.

Yesterday's announcement was to confirm that the group will receive £1,239,000 this year as the penultimate installment in that grant.

Mark Fielding, Bradford Trident's executive officer for neighbourhoods, said: "We will continue our work in areas such as housing with our Facelift project. We will be working closely with local schools to continue the improvements in educational standards already made - such as in GCSE pass results.

"Trident will be continuing beyond the end of the New Deal for Communities programme which ends in 2010. We will be working closely with partners such as the local education authority, Bradford Council, the NHS and others to deliver projects for them.

"We are already beginning that work by undertaking a health inequalities project with the Primary Care Trust over the next 12 months. We are also co-ordinating the extended schools programme in the Trident cluster of primary schools."

Communities Minister Baroness Kay Andrews said: "Across the country, the New Deal for Communities partnerships have made a dramatic improvement to the lives of the people they serve.

"The evidence is clear to see, including reducing crime and the fear of crime, raising the educational achievements and aspirations of young people in the community and improving health.

"So I am delighted to confirm this significant funding for NDCs, to give them the resources they need to continue the excellent work in their communities."

Since Trident was set up surveys of local residents show they have really noticed the difference, reporting significant improvements in quality of life and satisfaction with the area.

And last year the group was awarded the prestigious national title of Regeneration Partnership of the Year.

Trident also owns local property and land valued at more than £10 million, which will generate an annual income ensuring it can continue to bring benefit to the area when central Government funding ends in 2010.

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