Residents and voluntary and community organisations are being urged to try to get a slice of £700,000 that has been awarded to 15 of Bradford's most deprived wards as part of a Government plan to engage communities.

The Neighbourhood Matched Fund has £30 million for the most deprived wards in the UK, with half of Bradford Council’s 30 wards qualifying for cash.

Areas, including Bowling and Barkerend and Keighley Central, were given funds last October to enable them to set up a Community First Panel, made up of members of the public and representatives from the public, private and voluntary sector, to decide on spending targets.

That panel will make a Community First Plan of how to improve their area, identifying groups and projects that could benefit from funding. Every £1 provided in funding must be matched by a similar amount of in-kind donations, such as donations of cash, services, free products or volunteer time.

Peter Tate, the Voluntary Organisation Support Officer for Bradford’s Community and Voluntary Service in Sunbridge Road, is helping co-ordinate all the panels and is urging people to contact their local panel to get cash before it is too late.

“The wards who got the money tend to be the most disadvantaged wards and the projects being funded are those helping older and younger people,” he said. “We are just starting to spend the money now and some of the wards are well advanced in their planning.

“But we want to spread the word and get the message out to voluntary groups to actually apply for money.”

Ian Brewer, administrator for the Wibsey Ward, which was awarded £33,910, said: “Because of the way the Government has released this programme, there has been no co-ordination of the groups across the city, leaving some groups well ahead and others not yet up to speed. No one wants to have to send money back for lack of bids.”

For details on how to apply for cash, call Mr Tate on (01274) 722772.