A SOCIAL and educational project in Queensbury is celebrating after being granted charity status.

The Queensbury Community Programme (QCP), which was founded in 1984, is now hoping it can expand its services, following the announcement.

Councillor Michael Walls, who is chairman of the programme's directors, said becoming a registered charity gave the QCP more "clout".

"We are pleased to announce that the community programme has been awarded charity status and is now a registered charity," said Cllr Walls (Con, Queensbury).

"It has taken quite a lot of doing, but fortunately we are there now, and we are official. It is all go now."

The group, which is based at the former NatWest bank branch on High Street, aims to offer learning options for adults and children in the Queensbury area, while also developing relationships within the local community.

On the QCP's new status, Cllr Walls said: "This is a valued step forward in the history of the programme, which will enable us to develop our programme further. We operate many things such as learning courses, job clubs, well being cafes for local residents and, due to our success and reputation for delivering services to the community, we have been commissioned to deliver services in Queensbury and adjacent areas especially for older people."

He added: "It makes a certain financial improvement to our position, including taxes and other expenses that can be a burden on us.

"It also means we can apply for funding from other places.

"We already do a tremendous amount of things to raise money and we have a proven record in the community.

"It gives us more clout as a recognisable organisation. It does say to people that we are a trustworthy organisation that has been looked at by the charity commission for this title.

"It has a lot going for it because it gives us the respectability."

In September 2014, a £90,000 project saw the former NatWest bank transformed into the programme's new home. It also helped mark the group 30th anniversary.

The landmark was celebrated with a bumper event that featured an art exhibition, a showcase of students' work, afternoon tea, a chance to meet the QCP team, details of classes and the opportunity to enrol on them.

The programme currently runs classes in soft furnishings, jewellery design, walking, creative writing, guitar lessons, computing, cake decoration, sewing and crafts, Spanish language, and Asian cuisine.