The project will focus on the positive impact the YMCA made during the war through the provision of tea huts, providing much needed refreshment and respite for the troops. The project will run for a year and will have a 'home base' at Culture Fusion, on Thornton Road in Bradford’s city centre.

Young people in Bradford including pupils from Carlton Bolling College and Ilkley Grammar School are being asked to explore their heritage of 100 years ago; YMCA Tea Huts are an ideal starting point for this, their story stretches from Bradford to the front line in France and as far as Egypt and Russia. The project will enable local young people to come together to research, design and build their own replica Tea Hut to take out to events to showcase the service the YMCA provided in wartime, as well as discover, with the support of Bradford Libraries Local Studies department, how their own families lived through the war; they will then be able to retell history for other young people today.

Bradford YMCA is calling for interested individuals of any age whether they are a young peson who wants to learn what their great, great grandparents would have done or a keen gardener who would like to plant a First World War vegetable garden to help combat 'food shortages'. In particular they are looking for volunteers who are keen to share the local learning they already have by manning the Tea Hut when it goes out to events.

Commenting on the award, Jackie Vicars, the leader of the project said: “What wonderful news, now we can put into place all the marvelous plans we have for commemoration of the outbreak of the First World War and the support given by the YMCA to the people living during those times and bring Bradford’s story to life.”
 
Bradford Libraries are supporters of the Lottery funded YMCA Tea Hut Project as part of the district’s commemoration of the anniversary of the First World War. Both the project and Local Studies have sympathetic aims: encouraging and supporting young people to research their heritage, and documenting the history and development of Bradford and its ethnic communities.
 
Fiona Spiers, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund Yorkshire and the Humber, said: “Every area has its own stories of their involvement in the First World War at home and abroad. By using the history of the YMCA Tea Huts as a starting point, young people will learn about the impact of the war on their local area, and further afield.”
 
Helen Grant, the Minister leading the First World War commemorations said: “The Tea and Remembrance project is a wonderful way to mark 100 years since the start of the First World War. In rebuilding, replanting and researching the past, Bradford’s story of bravery and sacrifice will be brought to life for another generation.”

Notes to editors

Bradford YMCA was established in 1857 and is part of a network of 121 YMCAs throughout England and part of the International Movement that spans over 119 countries throughout the world. The YMCA’s International Movement is the largest and oldest youth charity in the world. Bradford YMCA is part of a worldwide inclusive Christian Movement, working with people of other religious faiths and those of none, transforming communities so that all young people truly belong contribute and thrive. Every year, Bradford YMCA impacts on the lives of over 4,000 people, intensively supports nearly 100 young people and enables over 300 young people to engage in education, skills and training to enable them to improve their opportunities in the job market. In the last year, Bradford YMCA supported young people in achieving over 250 qualifications.
 

HLF-funded First World War projects include:
First World War Centenary Project, IWM London
An HLF grant of £4.5m is transforming IWM London (part of Imperial War Museums) by creating new ground-breaking First World War Galleries.
 
Flintham Society – Keeping the Home Fires Burning?
Keep the Homes Fires Burning? is a community history project looking at the impact of the First World War on life in the Nottinghamshire village of Flintham.

Tank Museum – Access all Areas, Dorset
Holding the world’s finest tank and armoured vehicle collection, The Tank Museum is a popular visitor attraction in the heart of Dorset. HLF’s grant is being used to house 130 ‘at risk’ vehicles, putting the entire collection indoors for the first time.

Through its First World War: then and now programme, HLF is making at least £1million available per year for six years until 2019. It will provide grants between £3,000 and £10,000 enabling communities and groups right across the UK to explore, conserve and share their First World War heritage and deepen their understanding of the impact of the conflict.

To find out how to apply for funding visit First World War: then and now. If a group needs a grant of more than £10,000 for a First World War project, it can apply to HLF through its open programmes.
Follow us on twitter @HeritageLottery #understandingWW1
 
UK Government Centenary plans
In June 2013, the Government set out its plans to mark the centenaries of the First World War commencing in 2014. These plans include a £35m refurbishment of the First World War galleries at the Imperial War Museum (IWM); The Government’s principal partners in the commemorations will be the Heritage Lottery Fund and the IWM, but will encompass support for a multitude of other initiatives, large and small, as they come together in the months and years to come.

Further information
Rachel Rickards, Business Development Coordinator at City of Bradford YMCA on 01274 307 228 or email: teahut@bradfordymca.org.uk.