Church unease over cash cuts to hostel

The Right Reverend David James is patron of the Assisi Project in Leeds Road, which has been told by Bradford Council it faces cuts of thousands of pounds from April despite being inundated with referrals.

The cuts result from less money coming from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for the Supporting People programme run by the Council.

Last year, the programme gave £22 million, but this year that is down to £19.5 million.

The Bishop said: "I would say to this Government: What about a bit of social concern? You can't blame the Council for this."

He said it was vital more support was given to vulnerable people to help them get order back into their lives.

"I think it is a great shame," he said. "We assume that people are more capable than they are and do not realise how low they have sunk.

"They need guidance to turn their lives around. There are people who just can't order their lives, especially if they have come out of prison. They need to be together at a place like this helping each other by sticking together to get their lives back in order."

The six-bedroom unit has around 150 men a year referred to it but can only deal with around 30, said project manager John Hebden.

He said activities such as day trips to North Yorkshire, five-a-side football and subsidised trips to the theatre would all have to be scrutinised in light of the cuts which amount to more than £4,500 a year.

"This five per cent cut in our funding is going to mean we will have to tighten our belts."

Andrew Houldsworth, Bradford Council's head of housing, said: "Unfortunately, due to a cut in our funding from the government we have had to reduce the amount of money we give to the Supporting People schemes for housing."

A spokesman for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister said after a review of how the Supporting People money was being spent it was felt savings could be made by councils without affecting services.