People refused benefits will receive expert advice on how to appeal after a Bradford support group was today awarded nearly £250,000 of lottery cash.

The Manningham Project has been allocated £223,705 over three years to continue its work with tribunal representation.

The money will be used to appoint two appeal representatives to assist people who have been declined benefits.

Project co-ordinator Lynette Kirk said: "A tribunal is a very daunting experience for anyone, particularly people for whom English isn't their first language.

"Appeal representatives have specialist knowledge of social security law and this greatly increases the chances of success in these cases."

The project handles more than 100 cases a year from Manningham alone, and Mrs Kirk said she was aware of many more cases which until now it has been unable to deal with.

The extra funding means it will be able to extend the service to other districts in Bradford, as far as Keighley.

The project has a success rate of 65 per cent. In one case a disabled person, who was initially denied disability living allowance, went to tribunal with representation from the Manningham Project and as a result received the £5,000 a year in benefits.

"This is not money that we are winning for people. It is what they are entitled to," said Mrs Kirk.

"A lot of people don't realise that if they appeal a decision could be overturned. It is this message we need to spread."

The Manningham Project is one of three groups in Bradford to benefit from Community Funding. Kirkgate Community Centre Users Committee has been awarded £65,762 over three years.

Funds will be used to buy a fully adapted minibus and employ two drivers to take elderly and disabled people to the centre.

The Bradford and Airedale Mental Health Advocacy Group, set up ten years ago, received £140,700 in March to start its Befriending Service Project.

It has been allocated a further £19,472 to set up a scheme called Make Friends With Fear which aims to help people suffering from anxiety.

The service will provide one-to-one support for people who suffer from severe anxiety and will run monthly self-help groups.

"The scheme will be confidential and free," said project manager Sharon Cullerton.