A clutch of pioneering projects aimed at transforming Bradford have been given a £130,000 funding boost.

A total of 17 projects are sharing the cash after being picked from more than 100 applicants vying for funding from the Social Futures scheme run by Bradford Council, the UnLtd charity for social entrepreneurs and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

Award winners included Gary Staniforth, for Hidden Voices, a campaigning magazine for the homeless; and Conor Ibrahiem, for X-tremism, a project which will produce materials for schools, exploring issues around religious fundamentalism.

The Little Germany Action Group will use the funding to kick-start regeneration in the area and the Manningham-based Zest for Life project, which offers support to post-operative patients using physiotherapy and counselling, has been recognised with an award.

Cliff Prior, chief executive at UnLtd, said: “The passion, talent and determination of the Social Futures award winners is astonishing.

“With people like this to make Bradford a better place, the city has a great future.

“UnLtd is delighted to be working with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation on this programme to back the people creating new social enterprises in Bradford, and we look forward to the role of the council in providing advice and guidance to help them succeed.”

A total of 116 applications were received and 31 interviews took place, from which the 17 successful projects were chosen.

Joseph Rowntree Foundation chief executive Julia Unwin said: “I was humbled by the commitment and enthusiasm of the award winners.

“Their determination to improve the lives of their communities is inspirational, and for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation supports our aim to help the city and people of Bradford to connect and engage with each other.”

Councillor David Green, Bradford Council’s executive member for regeneration, said: “The awards showed a very high calibre of entrepreneurial flair.

“The winners showcased a diverse range of inspiring projects, from enterprise development for women through the Bradford Moor Women’s markets project, outdoor educational opportunities for NEETs, ex-offenders and ex-army personnel from the Roots to Success initiative, a project for the re-use of waste materials in innovative creative products by Bradford artists, through to an employability programme in Keighley for individuals with a history of mental health issues.”