BRADFORD Cinderella Club is re-opening its ‘Crash Pad’, providing overnight stays for young people from underprivileged backgrounds.

The charity is appealing for youth leaders, schools and other organisations to get in touch if they know of teenagers who would benefit from staying in the city centre property.

The Cinderella Club, which funds clothing and treats for children in poverty, transformed the building into a beautifully furnished, fully equipped accommodation facility, with bedrooms, bathrooms, a living-room, fitted kitchen, games room and quiet space.

A £30,000 renovation of the Crash Pad, funded by charity investments, donations and fundraising, was completed at the start of 2020 but due to the pandemic it hasn’t yet been used.

“It’s a fantastic facility, but sadly for 18 months nobody has been through the door,” said Development Officer Mike Conway. “It has now been deep cleaned and we hope to have it up and running in the next three weeks.

“We would love to hear from youth workers or anyone else who works with young people who may benefit from staying there. The idea is that two young people stay for a couple of nights, supervised by youth workers, and just have a chance to relax, play games, chat, cook and enjoy some respite.”

The Crash Pad continues Bradford Cinderella Club’s ethos of providing children with items their families can’t afford. In the 1960s it took children to Hest Bank holiday home in Morecambe.

The charity was established in 1890, to provide basic clothes for children in poverty, and within a few years it was serving 40,000 free meals a year. Today it provides things such as school trips, uniforms and computer equipment.

“There are thousands of people not just in Bradford, but nationally and internationally who know of or will have benefited from Bradford Cinderella Club,” said Mike. “There is still a great need for this charity, particularly with families struggling financially in the pandemic. We are getting plans underway for fundraising.”

* To find out more about the Crash Pad call (01274) 306428 or visit cinderellaclub.org