TWO local charities chosen to benefit from the Lord Mayor's Appeal hope that it will help bring their vital services to more people in the Bradford District than ever before.

New Lord Mayor of Bradford Councillor Zafar Ali announced yesterday that he will be supporting two charities during his time in office.

Bradford Nightstop, which helps young people at risk of homelessness find a safe place to stay for the night, and Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice are the two charities Cllr Ali has chosen to support through his Lord Mayor’s Charity Appeal.

Cllr Ali, who was sworn in during a mayor making ceremony yesterday, is understood to be the first Conservative British-Pakistani Lord Mayor in the North.

After the ceremony the new Lord Mayor officially launched his Lord Mayor’s Appeal with representatives of the two charities. Bradford Nightspot is this year celebrating 25 years of providing homeless 16 to 25 year olds with safe, ‘one night at a time’ accommodation in the homes of volunteers. The charity works across the whole of the district, and hopes that being a chosen charity of the Lord Mayor will give it more prominence.

Manorlands is a Sue Ryder hospice that provides care and complementary therapies for people aged 18 and over with life-limiting conditions, and support for their family and friends. Their specialist care teams support people in the hospice and in their own homes, focussing on quality of life. Last year they cared for 850 people from the surrounding area

Although well known in Keighley and its surrounding villages, the charity believes being chosen for the appeal will make more people in Bradford aware of their services.

Cllr Ali said: “I care about helping people during their whole life. During my mayoral year I want to bring this balance of helping young people get a better start to their adult life, while also supporting those people who are coming to the end of their life.

“The Bradford Nightstop charity provides a lifeline for some of our young people when they are at their most vulnerable. Manorlands Hospice helps people and their families through what can be the most difficult and frightening time in their life. What both these charities have in common is they are dedicated to serving people in their hour of need.”

Harriet Wood, from Manorlands, said: “We’re very grateful to have been recognised this way. In Keighley there are very few people who have not benefitted from our work, but away from Keighley not as many people know what we do. We hope being part of the Mayor’s Appeal raises awareness.”

Joy Rainbow from Bradford Nightstop said: “We are in our 25th year, and are a small charity, so it is fantastic to have recognition like this. We’re very humbled to have been selected.”