THE DIRECTOR of a Bradford community project which supports young people across the district has warned that poverty will hark back to “1970s levels” amid the current economic crisis.

Claudia McFarlane, of the African Caribbean Achievers Project (ACAP) – based on Claremont – has predicted that things are only going to get worse, particularly for Bradford and the north of England.

Claudia, who grew up in poverty herself, added that after energy bills rise next month the economic climate will be reminiscent of a childhood that she and many others experienced.

“Things are going to get very dire,” she said.

“People are already having to choose between heating and eating, and it will hit harder in places like Bradford.

“There is definitely a north-south divide. When London sneezes, we get the cold. There’s social policy down south which affects the north negatively.

“We’re the poorer cousins who get left behind. We get less funding and fewer resources.”

Claudia referenced a 1966 BBC television play, Cathy Come Home – a gritty depiction of poverty and homelessness – and argued that the current crisis is not too dissimilar from it.

“Right now, this is like my childhood. My mum had to make sacrifices, including not eating herself, so that we could,” she said.

“My mum’s guidance put us on the right path, we always had good education and employment, but I feel for the kids who don’t have that springboard to catapult themselves off on.”

Claudia said that ACAP is hoping to work with other local groups to help feed people who are struggling in the district.

“We want to launch food appeals, so that we can support the poorest families,” she said.

“People are sometimes too proud to go to food banks, so we’ve had to take it to them.

“If any other groups want to get involved, they can contact us.

“We need to work together to tackle the inevitable crisis we’re going to see.”

In addition to its efforts to support those in poverty, ACAP is also helping Bradford children who have been excluded get back into school.

It also runs games design and coding sessions for girls, due to the underrepresentation of women in those industries, online tutoring and a science club.

ACAP will also be hosting four events to celebrate Black History Month in October.

For more information and to get involved, contact ACAP on 01274 720 254.