A CHARITY that provides treats and trips for underprivileged children in the district is to open an overnight facility offering a safe, relaxing haven for youngsters away from home.

Bradford Cinderella Club, which has its 130th anniversary next year, provides funding for activities and treats, and some necessities, that other children take for granted. It funds school trips and items such as computers and clothing.

From 1908 to 1979 the charity ran a holiday home at Hest Bank near Morecambe. Now it has transformed a property in Little Germany into a ‘Crash Pad’ for school age children to take a break. The four-storey building will be available to organisations, approved by the charity, working with disadvantaged children. Two youngsters at a time will stay there for two to three days, supervised by staff from each organisation.

“The idea is to give them an experience of a nice, comfortable home environment, where they can eat a hot meal at a table, have conversations and time and space to themselves without any pressure,” said chairman Terry Pearson. “They will have their own wardrobe, desk, internet connection. There’s a games room with a pool table. It’s a place where young people can relax and be cared for, like the thousands of kids who visited Hest Bank. I was one of them, and I still have vivid and happy memories of it. Those memories stay with you for life.”

The property has been renovated entirely with donations and fundraising. It is due to open next year, and the charity is planning an open day in February.

Bradford Cinderella Club was started in 1890. Following letters in the Bradford Observer raising concerns about the city’s poor children, a group of Bradfordians formed a committee to provide treats, free meals and clothing. Within three months it had assisted more than 5,000 children. By the late 1890s it was providing 40,000 meals a year, leading to the Bradford Schools Board’s Provisions of Meals Act. Over the years the charity funded trips to the cinema, theatre, countryside and coast.

“We started out providing clogs and corduroy trousers. Now we provide trainers and tracksuits, but the ethos remains,” said Jim Saville, who has been involved with the charity for 40 years. “We help disadvantaged children to experience the same activities as their friends. We wish there wasn’t still a need for us but there is a lot of poverty in this district. Some children don’t even have a change of clothes.”

The Cinderella Club has launched its Christmas shoebox appeal, urging people to donate items such as toys, stationary and games as well as toothpaste, toiletries, hats, gloves and socks. Donations can be taken to a shoebox-packing day at St Bede’s School on Saturday, December 7, 10am-4pm, or collected on arrangement. The festive gift shoeboxes will be distributed by food banks, community centres and faith organisations. Co-op Funeral Care in Five lane Ends is taking donations of selection boxes.

* To make a donation call Mr Saville on (01274) 410317. For more about the charity visit cinderellaclub.org