A speed-dating style event will match potential volunteers with Bradford community groups, as it was revealed there are 121,592 people across the district who give their time to help others on a regular basis.

Fifteen organisations from the district, including charities and sports clubs, will take part in the speed matching evening at Bradford Volunteer Centre on Sunbridge Road from 6pm to 8pm on Wednesday.

The event has been organised as part of Volunteers’ Week, which aims to recognise the work of volunteers, raise awareness of the benefits of volunteering and inspire a new generation to join them.

Dave Forrest, director of the volunteer centre, said there are more people in Bradford who give their time to the community than anywhere else in Yorkshire.

“Volunteers make an amazingly significant contribution to the life of the Bradford district,” he said.

“Volunteers’ Week celebrates the huge resource that volunteers bring to the Bradford district, enabling community groups to add real value to services and to reach out to more people.

“The year has already seen a ten per cent increase in volunteer inquiries and over 70 new charities who want to take on more volunteers.”

As well as the speed matching event, the volunteer centre will host a talk to help those interested in running charities find out more about becoming a charity trustee from 7pm to 9pm tomorrow.

On Thursday, people can find out about volunteering to read with Bradford school children during Reading Matters at The Midland Hotel on Forster Square from 10.30am-12.30pm.

And on Friday, Bradford East MP David Ward (Lib Dem) will be volunteering at St John’s Church in Thorpe Edge, serving dinners to older people as well as attending a Vintage Volunteer Fair taking place from 10.30am to 2.30pm.

In Keighley, people will be invited to help with a range of tasks at Central Hall, on Alice Street, during a drop-in session on Wednesday at the community centre, which is run by Keighley and Ilkley Voluntary and Community Action. The session will take place from 2pm to 5pm.

Mr Forrest added: “The events provide an amazing opportunity to meet some fantastic charities who need volunteers in fun and friendly venues, to help you find a suitable volunteering role to match your lifestyle.”

To book a place at the Reading Matters event, call 07841 504374.