GROUPS in Shipley are celebrating being awarded part of a £52,000 grants handout.

North East Windhill Community Association, based at Windhill Community Centre, Church Street, has received £11,000 of the £52,700 total from the Community Buildings Grants 2017 to 2019.

The project, which covers an area of around 5,000 people, gives advice on benefits, housing and disability and is run by a mixture of volunteers and full and part-time staff.

A number of activities are also held at the association’s community centre base. These include an adults’ reading and writing support group and an after-school children’s club.

The association, which started in 1984, also works closely with other groups including West Yorkshire Police and Bradford Council.

Alan Keeling, association vice-chairman, said: “We are continually looking to expand what we offer.

“This will help us to replace funding that we have already lost.

“This money gives us some breathing space to apply for funds from other places.

“The money will be spent on making the system work for as many people as possible.”

It is one of 12 projects within the Shipley Parliamentary constituency to benefit from the cash over each of the next two financial years. The projects were recommended by the Shipley Area Committee Grants Advisory Group.

Kirkgate Centre was awarded £8,000 for each of the two years, and the St Hugh’s Community Centre at Baildon has been handed £7,485. Baildon Community Link has won £5,490, Cullingworth Village Hall has gained £4,240, while Hive, based in Kirkgate, Shipley, has received £4,030.

Menston Scout & Guides Association gained £2,992, Shipley & Bingley Voluntary Services £2,000.

The First Cottingley Guides, Brownies & Rainbows have received £1,800, while the First Bingley Scout Group gained £1,500.

Subject to funding, all of the 12 projects will receive the same amount of grants during the 2018/19 financial year.

But All Saints Church in Bingley, Bradford Moor Youth & Community Association and Newlands Furniture Service, based in Thorpe Edge, missed out in this latest allocation of grants.

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