Bradford Cinderella Club has been helping children in poverty for more than 130 years. But Covid has restricted its work over the past year, and its Crash Pad - a city centre property where youngsters can stay for a break - hasn’t been used since it opened early in 2020.

Honorary Development Officer Mike Conway, who is heading a fundraising drive for the charity, said its ethos - providing items that some children would otherwise go without - is needed now more than ever, but the pandemic has put a strain on finances.

Mike, a semi-retired engineer, is working with the Trustees and Management Committee on building on the charity’s history and taking it into the future. “There are hundreds if not thousands of people not just in Bradford, but nationally and internationally who will know of or will have benefited from Bradford Cinderella Club,” said Mike. “It’s time to connect with those people.

“In coming months we’ll be launching a number of fundraising events, including a Friends of Bradford Cinderella Club. We’ll also be looking to publish some of its archive material, such as a ‘Green Book’ containing names of all children who went to Hest Bank from 1965-1975. In coming months the data will be searchable online.”

Trustee Terry Pearson grew up on Holme Wood and as a child went to the Cinderella Club’s holiday home, Hest Bank, at Morecambe. He said: “We will never forget the greatness of Bradford people, who have donated over the years to keep the Cinderella Club in a position to meet its objectives, and continue to do so. We recently received £1,000 from Car Care Plan at Thornbury. And it’s not just cash - this year we had donations of Easter eggs from individuals and organisations such as the Covid Support Unit at Henry Mitchell House.”

The charity was established in 1890 to provide “clogs and coats” for children in poverty. Within three months it had assisted over 5,000 children and by the late 1890s it was serving 40,000 meals a year, leading to the legacy of free school dinners.

Today it provides things other youngsters take for granted, such as school trips, uniforms and equipment. The Crash Pad was opened following a £350,000 renovation, funded by charity investments, donations and fundraising,

“The original committee would never have thought we’d still be here 130 years on,” said Terry. “Child poverty hasn’t gone away.”

* Visit cinderellaclub.org