Residents wanted to help spend £1m in Scholemoor and Lidget Green (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Residents wanted to help spend £1m in Scholemoor and Lidget Green

9:00am Saturday 29th September 2012 in News By Kathie Griffiths, T&A Reporter

A new community partnership is looking for people to make a difference where they live and help spend £1 million.

Thanks to the Big Lottery Fund and its Big Local Programme, the Scholemoor and Lidget Green areas of Bradford have been chosen as one of 150 communities across the UK to get a pot of cash to spend over the next ten years making their area a better place to live.

Door-knocking, questionnaires and drop-in-sessions have already begun to rally interest in the project and gather ideas for a spending wishlist. A board of 15 residents is now needed to help steer it.

Empowering communities organisation CNet and Bradford Community Voluntary Service have been appointed to help get the programme under way and they have until Monday, October 15, to find board members – the only qualification they need is to live in the area.

Abdul Ismail, of CNet, said: “We’re not looking for the usual suspects to volunteer. We want people equally spread from the area who want to get involved in something big that will help transform their community for the better. It can be people from all ages, different faiths and cultures. People who will listen, people who will speak out and people who will put the community plan into action. We haven’t had any interest from women yet.”

Training will be given and out-of-pocket expenses paid. There will be board meetings and functions to attend, taking up at least one day a month.

The project also needs more volunteer researchers to join a team out and about gathering people’s ideas. There is a public meeting planned at St Wilfrid’s Community Hall in St Wilfrid’s Crescent on Monday from 6pm to 8pm and a roadshow double-decker bus will be roving the streets next Friday and Saturday.

As well as residents being consulted for their ideas, researchers are also talking to schools, churches, mosques, community centres and groups so everyone gets involved. A film is also being made to be part of the plan that should be ready by December.

Mr Ismail added: “We’ve got this time to generate as may ideas as we can and find out what people really want. Nothing is stitched up or definite yet when it comes to how the money will be spent so it’s important people come and tell us what they want and how they want to see their community in ten years time.

“Ideas so far have been about homes needing improving, more parking spaces and then there are the priorities of fighting drugs and crime. We need a plan before we start spending and it’s down to the people to be empowered and take up this opportunity.”

To take part you can call Bradford CVS on (01274) 722772 or go to bradford cvs.org.uk or Bradford CNET on (01274) 305045 or go to cnet.org.uk.