PROVIDING a drop-in centre for people living with dementia is the main objective for Dementia Friendly Keighley.

At the group's annual meeting, DFK secretary Sandra Kelly said: "Our main focus for the coming year is to create a drop-in centre in Keighley.

"This is what people living with dementia in our area tell us they want and desperately need.

"It would be somewhere carers could leave their loved one for a couple of hours and know that they will be safe, while they go and do some shopping, attend an appointment, or have coffee with a friend.

"It would also be somewhere they can pick up information, have a chat and generally feel supported.

"We've had a consultation meeting with various professionals with experience in this area, and the discussion was detailed, uncompromising and invaluable.

"It isn’t going to be easy to establish a centre, but it's something we're committed to doing and we'll be working hard over the next few months to make progress."

She said that until such a facility becomes a reality, a pop-up information stand will continue to be present in the Airedale Shopping Centre on the third Friday and first Wednesday of each month.

Ms Kelly said a financial report by treasurer Maggie Marsden showed that fundraising had been very successful throughout the last year, with more than £16,000 raised to support existing services and to plan for future services.

She said: "Sovereign Health and Persimmon Homes both gave large sums to enable us to employ dedicated administrative support.

"Other notable donations included David Gallagher Funeral Directors who chose DFK as their charity of the year and gave £1,000. Also, £1,561 was raised at a Holy Family Catholic School reunion."

Steve Seymour was re-elected as chairman of DFK during the AGM.

He thanked departing co-opted member Jan Smithies for her work throughout 2015, and singled out her expertise in preparing funding applications.

Ms Marsden said DFK had been successful in a funding bid from the Bradford Winter Warmth Fund.

"It’s to run a fitness session for people with memory problems – and their carers – in the Keighley area," she said.

These one-hour, morning sessions will take place at Central Hall, Alice Street, with the programme beginning on Monday, January 25, and running for about ten weeks.

Each fitness class will begin at 11am and will be led by fitness expert Janice Bairstow. The sessions are free for anyone living with dementia.

Anyone wishing to attend can call Dementia Friendly Keighley on 01535 677177, or call 07971 527525 to get in touch with Maggie Marsden.