A young people’s charity in Bradford is to start a major fundraising drive to help vulnerable girls escape the traps of child sexual exploitation.

Great Horton-based Joshua Project is linking up with the Golddigger Trust already working nationally to support young people at risk.

Joshua Project director Rich Jones says despite the Bradford project already having had a great impact on the lives of many girls in the area since it was launched more than five years ago, the project still needs to do more and joining up on a scheme with the Golddigger Trust will help.

“Working to support girls in our communities, particularly vulnerable ones, has been a large piece of work that the Joshua Project has undertaken over the last six years,” he said.

“We have worked with girls who have been homeless, been at risk of being victims of child sexual exploitation, have self harmed, suffered with eating disorders, given birth while still under 16, been in abusive relationships, had low self-esteem and no self-image.

“This work, led by a team of volunteers, has had a great impact on the lives of many girls, but we need to do more.”

To help make that happen, the Joshua Project, along with the Golddigger Trust, is going to start its I Am Appeal at the end of next month to raise enough money to recruit a female youth worker to specifically work with girls in need.

The first of the fundraising events is on Saturday, November 30 from 7.30pm at My Impact Centre, Cross Lane, Great Horton which will double-up as the I Am Appeal’s launch.

Beth Stout, who is the chief executive of the Golddigger Trust, said: “We are extremely excited to be working with Joshua Project to develop a new project working specifically with vulnerable girls in Bradford.

“We are delighted to be working with Joshua Project to replicate this innovative work in Bradford, helping hundreds of girls to escape the traps of Child Sexual Exploitation and to be empowered to make positive choices for themselves.

"We have been huge supporters of Rich and Joshua Project for many years, and their passion and ability to support some of our most vulnerable young people deserves huge recognition and support.

“We hope people will come to the launch night to hear more about the vision and to support us."

The evening includes a three-course meal, charity auction, raffle, licensed bar and entertainment. Tickets are £20 per person, and a table of eight and gets the eighth ticket free. Places are limited to 60.

Tickets for the fundraising event can be bought online at joshuaproject.org.uk/iam