Regeneration chiefs say Bradford residents have got what it takes to make their community groups thrive well into the next century.

Members of Yorkshire Forward, the new Regional Development Agency, are urging groups not to rely on one pot of cash and come up with different ways to survive.

And they are asking people how they can support and empower them to do so.

Yorkshire Forward board member, Adeeba Malik, said: "Bradford has got one of the fastest growing populations in the district and it's very much a young population so this needs to be addressed in our strategy.

"There is a great need for facilities for young people and we must look at the issues that face them including low educational achievement, high levels of unemployment and problems around crime and drugs.

"We're trying to encourage ordinary people to have a say in their communities and this seems to be happening already in many areas around Bradford.

"People are taking control of their own lives. It's OK putting money into a community project but when the cash runs out a lot of groups collapse.

"Instead of relying on one pot of cash, we want to equip them with the skills to find other ways of funding such as selling products."

Yorkshire Forward has until October to develop a regional economic strategy for the next decade to try and improve economic prosperity and quality of life in the region.

The team visited projects around the city this week, including the East Parade Urban Village Development in Keighley, Lilycroft nursery school, Manningham Mills and the Newlands Youth Action Team.

"What struck us about the youth action team was that most of them had failed at school but they picked themselves up and got on with it. Now the majority of them are going to university," said Miss Malik.

"Our plea to them was to use themselves as role models and share their enthusiasm and ideas with their peers."

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