An action plan has been drawn up to improve the lot of youngsters on a Bradford estate which has a bad image.

It was the outcome of a one-day conference yesterday at City Hall focusing on the best way to deliver funding and support young people on the Canterbury Estate.

The Canterbury Action Together scheme (CAT) hosted the event to give local residents, agencies and council workers a chance to meet and share their views on issues facing children and young people.

The day was attended by staff and pupils from nearby schools and agencies such as the Youth Service, the Early Years Service, voluntary organisation Canterbury Cabins and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).

Aims of the day included clarifying what funding and support is available for CAT to deliver services for children, identifying gaps in services and how they could be filled, supporting groups already working with young people, and working out the best way to consult children and their families about their needs and wants.

Organisers summarised the day's discussion by drawing up an action plan aimed at improving conditions for young people.

Pam Hardisty of Bradford Vision and Canterbury Action Together said: "It was an excellent day which confirmed what the residents already know about the commitment of local people to turn things around.

"We split into workshops to discuss separate issues but the same thing kept coming out - people want to see action. We need strategies for providing for young people. We need resources to help them to do their own thing.

"The estate has a bad image but there are lots of things going on. This is one of the first areas to create a neighbourhood action plan and will provide a model for how people work together on a local level so agencies respond to their needs rather than the other way around."

Bradford Council's Executive member for health and housing Councillor Kris Hopkins said: "This event looked at the way forward for the area.

"It helped to identify any gaps in the service and how best to address these, as well as looking at providing more support to those who are already working with children."