One of Bradford's poorest communities is about to open a homework club for young people to improve their chances of succeeding at school.

The Bangladesh People's Association has landed a £7,000 grant to set up the club at its headquarters in Cornwall Terrace, Manningham.

The association, a focal point of Bradford's tight-knit Bangladeshi community for 40 years, hopes it will improve the prospects of the Bangladeshi community which is regarded as the poorest race of people in the UK.

Ashraf Miah, centre manager, said Bengali people regarded education as vital to improving the prospects of their children.

He said: "We want to educate our young people. The association over the last five or six years has really taken off. We now have lots of young people involved but we realise that education in our community must be a priority.

"We want to move into the next Millennium with greater confidence. The club will have computers which are rare in Bangladeshi homes where many families rely on benefits."

The homework club, which it is hoped will open by the end of this month, has received a £7,000 grant from the Northern Rock Foundation which will support it through its first three years. It will enable computers to be purchased and the club itself will be run by volunteers to provide a suitable environment for homework to be carried out.

The BPA is also in talks with the Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) about match-funding.

The association, formed in 1958 when the first Bengalis arrived in Bradford, has recently refurbished its headquarters, the former Capricorn nightclub, which it has occupied since 1995, only yards from the Bradford City football stadium.

The building is home to a number of groups including an elderly day centre and advice services.

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