FUNDING of up to a million pounds is being made available to build Manningham into an area where people want to visit, live and work.

The announcement of the Made in Manningham funding was made at an anniversary event at Carlisle Business Centre which was celebrating 25 years since it opened.

The Bradford Doula Service, also based at the centre, was celebrating its 6th anniversary at the same time.

The money is coming from independent trust Power to Change, which will work with Carlisle Business Centre to help community groups set up community businesses.

It is a five-year funding package designed to assist groups to come up with ideas to improve the area with enterprises which will become profitable and create jobs.

Katherine Wyatt, community business manager with CBC said: “It is a really exciting time for the future of Manningham.

“We want to create an area that people will want to be a part of, to come and live and work in.

“Our job as a not-for-profit organisations is to help groups take their ideas forward.

“Over the past six months we have been conducting surveys with people in the streets, knocking at doors and asking them what they want.

“They answers ranged from seeing the area tidy to having more emphasis on health and wellbeing. People said they want to see a cleaner Manningham and wanted more healthy activities for children and older people,” she said.

“One idea was street and garden tidying to improve the area visually .

“We will work with people’s ideas and bring people together to take ideas forward. These ideas will start with volunteers to begin with and if they are successful and start to make a profit then these groups can start to look at employing people and that will add to the economy of Manningham.”

Hamayun Arshad, chairman of CBC added: “This is the most entrepreneurial place in the district and we are looking forward to working with local talented people over the next five years.”

Sam Keighley, chief executive of the centre added: “This is a hugely exciting venture. We already have a great base of partners and it is through their help we aim to make this venture a great success.”

The anniversary event saw around 300 invited guests enjoy a buffet lunch and entertainment.

Lord Mayor of Bradford Councillor Abid Hussain was one of the invited guests.

Mark Gordon for Power to Change said: “Power to Change has always put power into the hands of local people and trusted them to get on with it.”