KEIGHLEY’S Big Local partnership has secured around half a million pounds to support schemes designed to improve and rejuvenate areas of the town.

Local Trust funding of £504,976 has been approved, for a number of projects over the next five years.

With match funding from other organisations, the package could be worth £750,000.

It is the third instalment of Keighley Big Local’s initiative, which began in 2016 with the opportunity to draw at least £1m over ten years from the Local Trust.

Three plans have been produced over that period, detailing the needs and aspirations of communities within the Big Local area.

The funding is granted to Airedale Enterprise Services as the locally trusted organisation, which administers the funds.

“Big Local is an opportunity for residents to create lasting change in their communities,” said spokesman, Shaun O’Hare.

“From the outset it was meant to be radically different from other funding programmes, with communities making their own decisions on what they know is best.”

The partnership has 14 resident members – all connected with the Big Local area within Keighley East ward – and is supported by ‘Friends’ including district councillors, the youth service and Keighley College.

Nine projects will be supported over the next five years, including the River Worth Friends, Cafe Eden and Ma Kelly’s Kitchen.

The All for Play team will continue to deliver an outdoor play programme and promote positive use of green space.

During the first lockdown the team, led by Get Out More CIC, also developed a support programme for older residents in Woodhouse and Hainworth – that will continue with the backing of Bupa UK.

Big Local is also working with partner Participate Bradford to establish Keighley as a social enterprise town and with residents on promoting the plastic-free agenda.

Tribute is paid to Big Local’s efforts by Local Trust assessors.

They say: “The plan represents a lot of hard work by partnership members and it’s lovely to see the journey that they have been on.

“It’s always a surprise when you look back at all that has been achieved and they have lots to be proud of. The partnership has consulted widely, refined priorities and responded to that good level of continuous consultation, so that they are secure in the knowledge of where the local community needs Big Local funding invested. Much of the work going forward represents the crystallisation of previous pilot projects or continuation of current projects.”