A Bradford charity which helps young people re-engage with education has been left counting the cost after thousands of pounds of equipment was stolen by burglars.

Ripple Education and Diversion, based at The Basement, Cooperville and Buttershaw Methodist Church, in Buttershaw, has said it is determined to struggle on providing activities and courses, despite computer equipment, recording equipment, projectors, a television, an amount of cash and games consoles being taken.

The project aims to get young people not in education, employment or training, as well as disengaged children still in school, with training and activities.

Project leader David Holt said the project received a lottery grant from Awards for All of about £15,000 during the summer, which was spent on the renovation of the centre as well as the new equipment.

Mr Holt said the damage and stolen equipment would cost the club between £8,000 and £12,000 to replace or repair.

He said: “I’m angry because it’s taken a long time to get young people to re-engage with education and now the tools we use to facilitate that are gone.”

Mr Holt said work was carrying on at the centre despite the loss, although they were facing difficulties.

He sad: “It means we have got less equipment to go around, so we can only have fewer people doing the training at any one time.

“The danger for us is the longer we string it out, the more chance we have of these kids dis-engaging again.”