COMMUNITY work means everything to one Bradford business that has remarkably been going since 1878.

Sovereign Healthcare received the Business in the Community Award ahead of Tong Garden Centre and Yorkshire Building Society.

The century-and-a-half old not-for-profit organisation has consistently donated between five and 10 per cent of its annual turnover to charities and organisations that work to improve the health and wellbeing of those living in Yorkshire, including local NHS Trusts.

Its Community Programme donations over the past 17 years has totalled £11.7 million.

One of the group’s proudest achievements was donating a record £1.5 million to the local community, to mark 150 years of looking after the health and wellbeing of Bradfordians and beyond.

This included more than £970,000 to local NHS Trusts and there were over 100 beneficiaries, such as food banks.

Neil McCallum, Chief Executive of Sovereign Health Care, was pleased to see the work he and his team do recognised.

He said: “We do an amazing amount in the community but it is because of the amazing things happening in the community.

“Taking this (the award) back into the office will really give a sense of pride, fulfilment and gratitude. It shows that the work we do is recognised.

“We also genuinely recognise the great work that the community projects we support are doing.

“We are born in Bradford, from Bradford, and proud of Bradford. We are delighted to be an important part of the city.

“I have worked for Sovereign here in Bradford for just over a year. It is a pleasure to be here. It is an amazing city and I am proud to be part of it.

“We are a supporter of City of Culture 2025. We are part funding that so we are super exciting with the opportunities it will bring and the light it will shine on the city.

“We want to help them to raise the profile around everything that is happening in this great place.”