SITTING on the outskirts of the city, Allerton is an area of the Bradford district where people refuse to let adversity hold it back.

Incorporated into the city in 1974, the pronunciation of its name may confuse newcomers, although the work of its residents will surely only inspire.

Allerton is not really ‘All-erton’ - rather, it’s ‘Oll-lerton’.

It’s the birthplace of Kimberley Walsh and Seabrook Crisps and it sits beside the picturesque Chellow Dene Reservoir. Around three-and-a-half miles west of the city centre, it is almost a gateway between urban and rural Bradford.

One of its main hubs is Cafe West, a community centre, cafe and library complex, which one volunteer, Kalsum Arain, calls “The heartbeat of Allerton.”

Kalsum, 38, is a mother to 4 daughters and has lived in Allerton for 18 years. She is proud of the area and believes it has something for everyone.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: The centre of Allerton, a part of the Bradford district which is home to many community groups looking for a brighter futureThe centre of Allerton, a part of the Bradford district which is home to many community groups looking for a brighter future

“The community is very close in Allerton, we’re all friends and if you ever need help, you can get help. Cafe West is great because we have things for the whole community, which isn’t just based on one demographic of people. We have things for people of all backgrounds.”

Sitting beside her is colleague and friend Ann-Marie Wing, 54, who works as an Elderly and Disabled Support Worker at Cafe West.

Ann-Marie says she was “born and bred” in Allerton, and despite it inevitably changing over the years, she says it still has the same sense of community that she knew in her childhood: “Even now, I still know a lot of the people in our close-knit community, which is great.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Kalsum Arain (left) and Ann-Marie Wing (right), of Allerton's Cafe West, a community space, cafe and library complex which Kalsum says is "the heartbeat of Allerton"Kalsum Arain (left) and Ann-Marie Wing (right), of Allerton's Cafe West, a community space, cafe and library complex which Kalsum says is "the heartbeat of Allerton"

“There’s a lot of positive things going on in Allerton, which we need to promote and publicise. Cafe West is a great example - people come and have a coffee and a chat and that’s community - Cafe West is a community.”

Allerton’s geographic location makes the area almost like a bridge which connects different cultures and communities.

The area is situated almost in between Girlington, an inner-city area with a predominantly British-Pakistani population, and Thornton, a village with mainly white-British residents.

There’s places in Allerton you look at and think ‘I see community happening here’. You see different conversations, between people of different backgrounds and generations, and it’s nice" - Josiah Sulc

Allerton’s proximity to contrasting areas like these seems to be well-reflected in its racial and religious make-up - Cafe West itself is a stone’s throw from a Catholic Church, a Mosque and a Polish newsagents.

Allerton’s diversity is something which Josiah Sulc, who runs community group Rooted In, along with wife Kate, is very proud of.

“There’s places in Allerton you look at and think ‘I see community happening here’. You see different conversations, between people of different backgrounds and generations, and it’s nice”, he says.

Josiah and Kate, both 35, explain the work they do as they manage to catch a short break from a busy afternoon at the Weymouth Community Centre.

Things have been hard here. The body from the Denholme murder case was found on Saffron Drive and before Christmas a group of people raided a supermarket with metal bars... But, in amongst this mess, there are pockets of positive things and we want to tell those stories and change the narrative" - Josiah Sulc

Kate, who says she has lived in the area all her life, explains, “We work with children and families and also train people who are unemployed and help them get back into work. The point is to build relationships and make connections with people.”

Josiah, who grew up in Great Horton and moved to Allerton after going to University in Manchester, adds, “The organisation was set up about fifteen years ago by Kate’s mum, my mother-in-law. Allerton is our community and our home and we love this place.

“There’s been unemployment in the area, so we set up a social enterprise event catering business, where we give out work experience and employment.

TOP STORIES:

“It’s not just about getting people back into work, it’s about understanding why people can be out of work for so long. Some people have faced domestic violence, bereavement, addictions and often, those barriers are bigger than ‘I have a gap in my CV.’ No one is helping them to process, deal and move on.

“We want to break the mindset some people in Allerton have that nothing good comes from here. I’ve heard people say that the only hope for their kids is if they move and get a job elsewhere. But we believe we can raise the next generation to be champions by instilling great values in them, like having a real sense of self-worth.

“Things have been hard here. The body from the Denholme murder case was found on Saffron Drive and before Christmas a group of people raided a supermarket with metal bars. Recently, the bookmakers got done over, and this world of drugs and violence is rampant. But, in amongst this mess, there are pockets of positive things and we want to tell those stories and change the narrative.

“People don’t always realise the value of togetherness - that’s a great foundation of a good community and a good society. We have that in Allerton and in a generation’s time, we want to look at those who succeeded here and see that they ensured the next generation’s success too.”