BRADFORD Cinderella Club - the city’s oldest children’s charity - was established in 1890 to provide clothing for families living in poverty.
The charity soon began giving hot meals to schoolchildren and in the 20th century continued to provide food and clothing, as well as treats and trips to the countryside. It went on to run a holiday home at Hest Bank near Morecambe.
Today, more than 130 years after it was established, the Cinderella Club funds treats, school uniforms, trips and equipment for children and young people. Every year it holds a shoebox appeal to fund Christmas gifts for youngsters.
The charity relies largely on the goodwill of fundraisers - like 93-year-old military veteran Jeffrey Long MBE, who is currently undertaking a series of walks covering 25 miles to raise funds for the Lord Mayor of Bradford’s appeal supporting Bradford Cinderella Club.
Says Mike Conway at the Cinderella Club: “Jeffrey is an amazing character with a brilliant attitude to charity fundraising - he has raised thousands of pounds over the years for a variety of organisations.
“Now he’s conducting a series of walks around Bradford city centre and Centenary Square.
“The Cinderella Club existed in many cities in the UK and the Bradford branch is the last surviving organisation of its type, raising funds for the little treats in life that can mean so much for kids that sometimes get left behind.”
The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Cllr Gerry Barker, and the Lady Mayoress, Jean Barker, joined Jeffrey for the start of his walks at the Cinderella Club headquarters in Little Germany.
“If you see Jeffrey on his walks please give him a big hello,” says Mike. “All donations to the Lord Mayor’s charity will be gratefully received, and a Justgiving page is also available to make donations. Go to justgiving.com/campaign/jeffreylong.
“Jeffrey’s intention is to do several walks over the coming weeks, and will do his last one on the Long Mayor’s last day in office.”
Jeffrey, a great-grandfather from Bingley, has raised more than £300,000 for several charities over the past 15 years and continues his work despite having chemotherapy and suffering back pain from a parachute malfunction in 1954 when serving with the 12th (Yorkshire) Parachute Battalion.
Said Jeffrey: “Bradford Cinderella Club is a wonderful charity that helps so many children, yet a lot of people don’t even know it exists. I want to raise awareness of the charity as well as raising funds for them.”
When the Cinderella Club started providing hot meals for schoolchildren in winter months, in the late 1800s, it was serving up nearly 40,000 meals a year. In 1906 it became the first provider of free school meals in the country, at Green Lane School in Bradford.
The venture led to the Bradford Schools Board introducing free school meals in the city, then education champions Margaret McMillan and Fred Jowett campaigned for the Education (Provision of Meals) Act 1906.
By the First World War the Cinderella Club was providing treats and day trips for children, as well as clothing, footwear and powdered milk for babies. In the 1920s it helped the local authority with social welfare provision.
Many Bradfordians will have fond memories of the Cinderella Club holiday home at Hest Bank near Morecambe.
Hest Bank was for youngsters from families who couldn’t afford holidays, or children who had a health condition that would benefit from open spaces and fresh air. Thousands of Bradford children went there for a seaside break.
The seafront holiday home was purchased by Bradford Cinderella Club in the early 1900s. Operating from April to October, it accommodated up to 40 children at a time. Terry Pearson, Cinderella Club Trustee, went to Hest Bank several times in the 1960s and has fond memories: “We played in the fields and they took us to the beach. It was the first time I’d ever seen the sea. We were always occupied. Some kids were homesick and there were one or two crying at night but most of us enjoyed it.
“I just remember everyone laughing, there was laughter all the time. Even the journey there on the bus was exciting.”
Hest Bank was converted into an evacuee camp in the Second World War, then used again as a holiday home until the 1970s. In 1977 a storm hit the building, and with not enough funds for repairs, the charity had to close the home after 70 years of providing holiday accommodation for around 50,000 Bradford children.
In the post-war years the charity was organising treats for children, such as trips to the cinema, theatre and countryside. But the fortnights at Hest Bank remained a highlight for many Bradford youngsters. Record books and visitors books in the charity’s archive include handwritten lists of children who stayed at Hest Bank. Alongside names and addresses are details of their weight on arrival and departure, and spending money.
Today the Cinderella Club owns a property in Bradford city centre, the Crash Pad, where young people can stay for a couple of nights, to have a break and a bedroom to themselves.
* On Friday, May 17 the Lord Mayor’s End of Year Civic Dinner Celebration will take place at the Midland Hotel in Bradford. Hosted by the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, the black tie event will include a three-course dinner, a Michael Buble tribute act, magician Arron Smith, a fun casino, raffle and auction.
To book a place contact the Lord Mayor’s Office on (01274) 434965/07970828597 or email lordmayorsappeal@bradford.gov.uk
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