Bradford boss Howard Bell turned hands-on charity worker for a day to see what life was like for the people his firm is helping.

Mr Bell, chief executive of Provident Financial, spent part of the day moving furniture around and the rest watching debt counsellors at work for the Bradford-based charity Christians Against Poverty.

Provident Financial, based in Sunbridge Road, has pledged £10,000 a year for four years to the charity which aims to open up 30 branches nationwide.

It already has its headquarters in Bradford and has branches in Huddersfield, Liverpool, Nottingham, Cheltenham, Worcester, Bristol and Aldershot and will soon open a new one in Blackburn.

The charity, which employs 25 staff, helps people with financial problems who have lost hope.

Mr Bell said: "I joined them for a day because, as chief executive, I need to lead our people in some on the issues we face and I was personally interested.

"John Kirkby, who leads the charity, came to me with a four-year business plan which impressed me. But it is not all one way. Some of our staff are taking a look at Christians Against Poverty's computer packages which they use to deal with people's problems."

Provident Financial has been involved with the charity for three years. Two years ago the firm's workers prepared Christmas hampers for the charity's eight most needy families - one prepared by each floor of the eight-storey building.

Since then the company has provided computers and printers for use by the charity. Other firms helping out are Empire Stores and Sovereign Health Care.

John Kirkby said: "We are very grateful for the help Provident Financial has given. We have built up a solid relationship with them over the years and they have become our biggest corporate donor."

But with all the help from the three companies in the city and grants from national bodies and personal donations, the charity is still left thousands of pounds short each month and sometimes workers have to have their pay delayed until the new money comes in.

Mr Kirkby said: "We have relied on God to keep the support coming in since we started in 1996."

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