Jean Walker, the driving force behind Bradford and District Senior Power, has been elected as Chairman of the Bradford Older People’s Alliance.

BOPA is an umbrella group for 85 community groups in the area, including Bradford & District Senior Power, and it campaigns on issues raised by its members.

In recent months, BOPA has lobbied on the issue of free city centre buses and worked with Bradford City Council on issues ranging from social services to regeneration.

Mrs Walker said BOPA had been involved in campaigns but she wanted to do more.

She said: “BOPA has been active in lots of very important projects, including the sustainable community strategy and mental health issues as well as the supporting people group. I feel there have to be some changes though and new ideas need to be introduced.”

Mrs Walker has a sound record of developing new ideas to raise money for important projects, including £50,000 for a community centre in the city by pitching the idea on television show Fortune: Million Pound Give Away.

She plans to bring similar inventiveness and enthusiasm to her new role.

She said: “I would like to see more community groups joining BOPA.

“It is a great opportunity for any group to have a voice and be part of what is going on. Previously we have had people who worked in specific sectors, which restricted what they could say on certain issues to an extent.

“Community groups can say what we want and raise whatever issues we see fit. It is all about communication.

“I also want to raise the issue of indirect payment for social services. This is where people are put in charge of their own budget, receive payments and self assess which services they require, whether that be transport, help with shopping, meals on wheels, whatever their needs. This idea can be frightening for some people; they have to feel secure.”

Other initiatives include co-operation between young and old. “It is very important to bring other communities and cultures together,” she said.

“We all live together, we have the same aims and we are all on the same journey.”

But the chief plank of her manifesto remains the foundation of a community centre.

“Currently there is nowhere for all the groups to meet and come together,” she said.

“Bradford Council have been very supportive but we still don’t have a proper full time centre. It would make a world of difference to the work being done here.”

She replaces Mrs Pam James as chairman of BOPA.