COMMUNITY projects across the Bradford district – including an initiative that will see volunteers comforting older people who have chose to die in their own homes – are celebrating sharing £435,630 of Lottery cash.

The biggest chunk of awards has gone to the Shipley-based HALE (Health Action Local Engagement) and Shipley Bingley Voluntary Services to keep running a befriending service for isolated older people for the next three years. It will use its £304,539 to support those who are housebound because of disabilities and who are affected by dementia, severe depression and have brain damage from strokes. Volunteers will also be trained to comfort older people who want to die at home.

HALE’s chief officer Natasha Thomas said: “What’s great is that the scheme can continue to run with six people continuing to support this group of people which makes such a difference. We already know 86 per cent of people have told us the scheme has helped them feel less anxious about their health and 92 per cent feel less lonely just by having someone visit them for an hour.”

A Standing Together scheme run by Global Community Outreach in Bradford to provide positive activities and English language sessions for youths from Black Minority Ethnic communities has also been awarded £9,630 and the city’s Education Advice Service for Adults has received £9,995 to teach English to migrants, refugees and asylum seekers.

Marshfield School has received £10,000 to develop and deliver extracurricular activities including kickboxing and Bradford’s Estonian Club got £10,000 to carry out a survey about its building and users’ needs.

Cafe West in Allerton has been given £8,972 to run healthy living sessions and activities for families in the summer holidays. A project called CamouflageCrew in Bradford received £8,949 to challenge young people to be adventurous and be the best they can while Sport Campaign Against Racism has been awarded £10,000 to deliver skill workshops to boost young Bradford people’s confidence.

Newlands Community Transport received £9,950 to hire a minibus.

Also in Bradford, the Phoenix Art Club got £4,981 to keep delivering its sessions for older and disabled people while Core Skills Coaching received £9,930 to stop young people being drawn into gang culture. Sports4kidsAcademy Ltd in Bradford got £10,000 to deliver sporting activities while St Andrew’s CofE School in Brighouse was awarded £9,814 to run social media safety workshops.

Vulnerable and homeless people in Shipley will be helped by the Woodfitness CIC scheme thanks to its £9,800 award to offer a health and fitness programme, and £9,070 has gone to another Shipley project, Crafty Folk, for a craft and friendship club.