He’s happy and he knows it!

But Rich Jones, who founded Bradford’s Joshua Project, does not want people to clap their hands – he wants them to dig them deep into their pockets and give generously.

The 27-year-old, who has been included in an official list of the UK’s happiest people, said it is giving – not taking, that brought about true happiness.

The Happy List will appear in a national newspaper tomorrow.

Mr Jones says he thinks it is “really cool” to be getting a mention, but says it is all because of The Joshua project – the young people it helps and the volunteers and workers who have made it work.

When he started the project in a Great Horton church in 2007, he and other volunteers were working with just a handful of young people needing support and help – educationally and socially.

In the last year the project has raised enough funds from well-wishers across the globe, as well as locally, to transform one of Bradford’s oldest cinemas – The Plaza in Cross Lane – into The Impact Centre, where it is now based and opens its doors to about 300 young people a week.

“It’s our success stories big and small that brings happiness. It happens every week. Sometimes it’s just a child who has started doing his homework, then there’s the contract burglar who has now got himself a job and has turned his life round and is helping us as a volunteer.

“It’s getting involved in all this, giving to a community, not taking – that makes happiness,” he said.

In last year’s Happy List, the likes of actor Collin Firth, comedian Charlie Brooker and TV’s Springwatch presenter Kate Humble got a mention as well as various teachers, charity workers and social campaigners.

On the same day, The Sunday Times will be revealing its annual Rich List.

Former Bradford supermarket boss Sir Ken Morrison has dropped from the top of Yorkshire’s rich poll to second place.

He was pipped to first place by brothers Eddie and Malcolm Healey, whose property deals have added £250m to their joint fortune which now stands at £1,500m.

Sir Ken’s family fortune now stands at £1,034m after reducing its stake in Wm Morrison to about nine per cent.