Families who survived the South Asian earthquake will be helped directly by Bradford families through a pioneering scheme.

BD3 4ALL Extended Schools programme wants families across the district to sponsor families in the disaster-struck region of Pakistan and Kashmir, by providing long-term aid for food, medicine, education and shelter.

Through 'Sponsor a Family Direct' families here can join together to help a family in Kashmir or Pakistan directly.

Families will be given the names and contact details of the people they are helping so they can build-up a long-term relationship through letter-writing or telephone calls.

BD3 4ALL Extended Schools project manager Tazeem Sawaiz lost six members of her family, including a four-year-old boy, in the earthquake.

"Initially we are focusing on ten families but we hope that will grow," she said. "£30 a month would pay for food and basic education for a family.

"We are looking at long-term support and the day-to-day costs but may send a larger amount initially to help people who have lost their homes to get a roof over their heads. "People can see their money is going to where it needs to be going and not getting lost in administration."

More than a month after the quake hit the region, people are still emerging from the mountain villages into the cities in need of medical attention.

"A vaccination, such as tetanus, costs the equivalent of £20," said Mrs Sawaiz. "The average wage is £20 a month. I know of a blind couple who lost their child and were taken from a mountain village by the Pakistani army with their three children.

"The man then had to get to Mirpur where a friend in Bradford had sent money to pay for tetanus jabs."

The extended school programme, which provides services and activities to the parents, pupils and the wider community, was involved in a live broadcast link with pupils from Byron and Thornbury schools with Muzaffarabad.

The ten primary schools within the BD3 4ALL cluster have raised £10,000 through non-uniform days and a fundraising event organised by BD3 4ALL, voluntary groups and parents raised a further £7,000.

Some of the money has already been sent off to relief charities but some has been held back to go directly to families.

"We have written to people in the community asking them how they would feel about sponsoring families directly," said Mrs Sawaiz.

"People have said 'yes' because they know the money will be being spent where it needs to be spent. We will show the community across Bradford exactly where the money is going."

To find out more call BD3 4All on (01274) 770211.