Almost £9,000 of lottery money has gone to two Keighley organisations.

Keighley & District Disabled People's Centre has received a £4,000 Awards for All grant and £4,670 has gone to Kensington Street's Bangladeshi Community Association.

A 'Jobmatch' scheme is being co-ordinated by the Disabled People's Centre to improve employment opportunities. The money will help buy equipment.

The scheme was started last year and an early supporter was Kenneth Martean, boss of Crossflatts firm TRICO, who died last month.

The aim is to get businesses to employ more disabled people.

Disability rights adviser Keith Bell explains: "This grant makes all the difference.

"Now we are able to purchase some more equipment and some necessary back up.

"We go out and talk to employers and hopefully match training to the jobs available instead of training for training's sake which we consider a waste of money.

"We're hoping to get a good response from employers, and as a former employer myself in the manufacturing industry I know you're short of one set of skills one year and another the next."

The grant will help fund a computer linked to the Internet and a training conference with local employers.

The centre also hopes to get European funding and work more closely with Keighley Area Panel.

l The Bangladeshi Community Association, which provides services such as advocacy, study support, youth services and employment training, is using the money to increase security. A fence will be built round the premises with a gate at the main entrance.