A major signing took place at Bradford City when manager Stuart McCall became the first official foundation trust member of a healthcare trust.

Stuart signed for Bradford District Care Trust which is bidding to become a foundation trust by the end of the year.

The Bantams' boss is supporting the mental health trust in becoming a foundation trust, a move which will ensure people are given more of a say in how their money is spent and how local mental health and learning disability services are run.

"We have a great fan base here at Bradford City and I believe strongly in this campaign," said Stuart.

"I'd urge our supporters to get behind their local mental health and learning disability services and influence the future of local NHS services."

Bradford District Care Trust needs to sign up 5,000 members over the coming months in support of its foundation trust plan.

Bradford City Football Club has teamed up with the trust to endorse their Sign Up And Be Counted campaign in a bid to increase membership numbers.

On Saturday, January 26, when Bradford take on Barnet, trust staff will be offering supporters the chance to win four pairs of tickets for an upcoming game, with full hospitality, if they sign up.

Chief executive of Bradford District Care Trust, Simon Large, who trained as a mental health nurse in Airedale, said he was delighted Stuart McCall and his team were backing the campaign.

He said: "Mental illness and learning disabilities can be a sensitive subject, but everybody will know of someone affected by it.

"On average one in every four visits to the GP is for a mental health-related problem. Becoming a foundation trust will give people the chance to help shape the future of their mental health and learning disability care and challenge the stigma surrounding mental health.

"We would welcome people across Bradford and Airedale following Stuart's lead."

Bradford District Care Trust provides care for those with the greatest level of needs and supports more than 5,000 people with mental health problems and more than 1,500 people with a learning disability.

A formal application to become a foundation trust will be made in September and a decision is expected in December.

As part of the application the trust is holding a series of events to showcase its work.

The first takes place on Monday, January 28, from noon to 6pm at the Great Victoria Hotel, Bridge Street, Bradford, with further events at Skipton Town Hall on Monday, February 4, from noon to 6pm, and at Victoria Hall, Hardings Road, Keighley, on Tuesday, February 5, from noon until 5pm.

For more details call Tom Sheppard on (01274) 363552.