BRADFORD and Leeds councils have been jointly awarded £3.5 million to help families at risk of social exclusion.

It will fund a new programme supporting 1,081 households across the two cities.

This aims to work with families before they start to exhibit anti-social behaviour, risk criminal records, come to the attention of police or have their children excluded from school, all of which may create major barriers to getting and keeping jobs. The cash is from Building Better Opportunities, a joint programme between the Big Lottery Fund and the European Social Fund.

Councillor Val Slater, deputy leader of Bradford Council, said: “It is excellent news that families across the Bradford district will benefit from this funding to support them with training and help them into local job opportunities in our district.”