NEW Lord Mayor of Bradford – Keighley Central councillor Zafar Ali – has revealed which charities he will be supporting during his year in office.

Proceeds from the Lord Mayor's Appeal will be split between Oxenhope Sue Ryder hospice Manorlands and Bradford Nightstop.

Manorlands supports patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families at the hospice and in the community, across an area covering Craven, Airedale and Wharfedale as well as parts of Bradford.

All services are free to patients and their loved ones, but it costs £9,000 a day to keep the hospice doors open.

Most of the funds have to be raised through voluntary donations.

Bradford Nightspot provides homeless 16-to-25-year-olds with safe accommodation in the homes of trained volunteers.

The charity, founded 25 years ago, operates across the Bradford district and plans to expand into neighbouring areas.

Cllr Ali – who was formally installed as Lord Mayor today, and Mrs Zeabunnessa Zafar as Lady Mayoress – said: "I care about helping people during their whole life.

"In my mayoral year I want to bring this balance of helping young people get a better start to their adult life, while also supporting those people who are coming to the end of their life.

"The Bradford Nightstop charity provides a lifeline for some of our young people when they are at their most vulnerable. Manorlands hospice helps people and their families through what can be the most difficult and frightening time in their life.

"What both these charities have in common is they are dedicated to serving people in their hour of need."