Fury erupted today as scores of community groups throughout the district learnt their Council funding was to be scrapped.

A total of 57 separate groups, just under a third of those who applied, have been told they will not be given grants due to a lack of cash.

Last night's community development committee meeting revealed the winners and losers in the round of voluntary sector grants decided using a controversial points system - now in its second year.

Among the losers at the first hurdle was the award-winning Asian Disability Network which now faces closure by March.

The special Asian arm of DIAL (Disability, Information and Advice Line) was expecting Bradford Council to provide £31,500 - about half the annual running costs.

Bary Malik and Mahfooz Shah, who earlier this year won an award for their innovative work, will lose their jobs. DIAL manager Peter Clarke said there are twice as many Asian young people with disabilities than white youngsters.

He slammed the decision to stop such unique work in an area of growing need as "inept, unfair and ill considered".

He said it had taken years to gain people's trust in an area which still held many taboos for the Asian communities.

"People will probably think 'here we go again'. As soon as we get a good service it's plucked away."

One of the group's recent successes has been Mr Malik's book Disability Benefits in a Nutshell, the first guide of its kind to be published in Urdu.

On November 30 the Government Minister for Disability Benefits Stephen Timms is travelling to Bradford for the book's launch.

Other losers include Bradford Curry Project, Bradford CVS (Volunteering Development Project), CHAS Housing Aid, Bradford Relate Centre and Buttershaw Christian Family Centre.

Wilsden Village Hall, whose members fought hard after rejection last year, will also miss out.

Secretary Peter Hopkinson said: "After last time it was a bit ambitious knowing the Labour Council in Bradford. It's not unexpected. We appealed last time and they just turned us down flat.

"We pay our rates, we probably pay more rates than other areas. Why shouldn't we get grants? But they don't give us anything because they think we are an affluent village."

Keighley Women's Centre tabled a bid for £38,500 but its application was turned down for the second year in a row.

Project co-ordinator, Jean O'Keeffe (CRRCT), said: "This is a terrible blow. We were relying on a grant from the Council to meet staffing costs. The appeals process will be yet another cliff hanger for needy organisations.

"As far as we are concerned when it comes to March 31 next year there will be no funds left for salaries and, unless we can find another way to raise the money, we will have to think about closing down."

The women's centre, based on Skipton Road, Keighley, offers help, advice and information to around 250 women each month. It has continued to expand since it was set up 16 years and now employs three part-time members of staff.

Councillor Ralph Berry, chairman of the community development committee, said many new organisations had been competing for the cash.

He added £200,000 had been held back for those groups who successfully appealed.

"We had greater pressure on the budget this year than last year."

Talking about DIAL's Asian Disability Network said it "needs to make their case and we will look at that with considerable care".

It is the second year Bradford Council has used a controversial points system to award grants to needy groups. But the system was simplified for smaller groups because of the outcry when it was first introduced.

Groups applying for cash are required to give details of their constitution finances and are asked for performance indicators.

Points are awarded for fundraising activities, existing partnerships and links with the Council, links with other voluntary groups and whether the service is district-wide.

Council officers match details of each scheme against priorities in its community plan. And they consider whether the services being offered are relevant to the present day.

The Council also takes into consideration the fact that funds awarded to groups could be used as a lever for further grants to organisations such as the National Lottery.

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