MORE than 40 charities are set to benefit from next year’s Community Chest grant allocations in Bradford East constituency.

The money is to be allocated after a host of applications from charities and community groups were considered.

The allocations – totalling £11,850 are recommended to be approved at the Bradford East Area Committee meeting at City Hall at 6pm tomorrow.

A total of 54 groups applied for grants, with 42 groups being successful. A decision on applications by three groups has been deferred until May.

Among the successful bidders are three cricket clubs.

Thackley CC is to be awarded £300 towards buying a Christmas tree and choir fees for its Christmas celebration, Bowling Old Lane CC will receive £500 for two outdoor notice boards, Seymour Sports Club will get £500 for cricket equipment for youngsters, and Hallifield CCC will get £480 for a recruitment event for youngsters to get involved in adult leagues.

Other big recipients include Friends of Peel Park, which will get £500 to re-establish the park’s cafe, and Eccleshill Community Association, which will receive £500 for two film screenings at the Mechanics Institute, one aimed at teenagers and one for older people.

St James’s Church Hall in Bolton Road is set to stage a play and 24 rehearsals for Castaways, which will be handed £500.

Greengates Memories Group is being given £500 to help fund a new central heating boiler at St John’s Church Hall in Harrogate Road, which is mainly used by community groups.

Bradford Disability Sport and Leisure will also be given £350 to help four athletes from the area go to the National Special Olympics in Sheffield later this year.

Barry Thorne, of Bradford Disability Sport and Leisure (BDSL), said the group is “absolutely delighted” to receive funding from the Community Chest.

He said: “We have asked each Area Committee to help with athletes from their area, and they have all responded brilliantly.

“It costs about £375 per athlete to get them to the games, and we have set a target of £25,000 which covers the team, coaches, travel and accommodation.

“We have more than 50 athletes going to the games, so we have had to raise a lot of money, and this is great recognition for local athletes.

“We have been holding lots of events and fundraisers and are on track to hit our target ahead of the games in August.”

The athletes going to the games from Bradford East include two footballers, one swimmer, and a ten-pin bowler.