TWO Keighley organisations are among more than 20 across the region that are to share in a £1 million-plus windfall.

Dementia Friendly Keighley and Keighley Healthy Living are both being allocated a slice of £1,158,385 – which has been awarded to West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership by NHS Charities Together.

The funding is to support the work of the voluntary community social enterprise sector across the area.

The partnership said that following an “open and transparent process”, 22 organisations and projects had been chosen to receive a share of the money.

Other recipients include Carers’ Resource, which works across the district.

The funds are particularly targeted at supporting the work of West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership in tackling health inequalities – through delivering grassroots help to those with long-term health conditions, people on hospital waiting lists and those most at risk of experiencing poor health outcomes and reduced life expectancy.

Rob Webster, chief executive officer for the partnership, said: “I would like to thank NHS Charities Together for its support and this funding.

“Our voluntary community social enterprise sector partners have done amazing work before and during the pandemic.

“Using hard data and their local insight and intelligence, we can target these much-needed funds where they will make the biggest difference to those facing health inequalities.

“The funds build on over £3 million already invested from the partnership on top of funding prioritised in each of our local places. We know that the NHS alone will not deliver what is needed in our communities and this latest investment is a vote of confidence in our fantastic partners.”

Hilary Thompson, who is senior responsible officer for the partnership’s Power of Communities programme, said: “The 22 funded projects – many of which are grassroots organisations – work in the heart of our neighbourhoods and include projects focused on refugees, asylum seekers, families affected by childhood cancer, unpaid carers, older people, people from ethnic minority communities and people living with disabilities.”