A charity which helps hundreds of people with mental health problems is jubilant today after successfully raising £270,000 to buy its Shipley home.

The Cellar Project, which trains people from all over the Bradford district, has spent almost two years trying to raise the money after its headquarters in Farfield Road were put up for sale by the Catholic Church, the owners of the property.

The charity was given the first option to buy the building and, after an appeal to charitable trusts, individuals and businesses across the district, enough money has now been raised to go ahead with the purchase.

Development manager Peter Johnson said that fundraising had been "no mean feat", attributing its success to the people who use the Project and benefit from its services.

Mr Johnson said: "The fund-raising has been sold on the basis of the work it does, the services given by staff and the people who benefit from that work.

"The fact that we've been able to raise so much instils a lot of faith in the work that's done there."

The organisation, which was started in a Bradford cellar in 1987, helps adults with mental health problems - from schizophrenia to severe depression - providing them with training and job opportunities to get them back into work.

Around 200 people a week use the Shipley headquarters where there are workshops for carpentry, painting, computing, textiles and catering, and where furniture and other products are sold to the public to generate income.

Workers are trained to deal specifically with Asian employees who might find it difficult to talk about their problems and the Project also has a branch in Keighley where, among other things, plants and garden furniture are sold.

Project Manager Val Johnson said: "We're delighted to have been able to raise the money after fundraising for so long."

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