GOOD causes across the Keighley district have received an early Christmas present.

More than two dozen groups and organisations are sharing in a community cash windfall from the Co-op.

Together they have been awarded nearly £80,000.

Some of the biggest beneficiaries are the Friends of Airedale Hospital – which was granted £7,682 – and 1st Cross Hills Guides, who received £6,945.

With other schemes in Bradford district and Craven, the total allocated was around £100,000.

And nationally, nearly 4,500 groups are sharing more than £17 million.

The money forms the latest round of payouts from the Co-op’s Local Community Fund.

Under the scheme – launched three years ago – when Co-op members buy selected branded products and services, one per cent of what they spend goes into the fund.

They can then choose which good causes they support by logging on to coop.co.uk/membership.

Since the initiative began, the fund has raised over £56 million – with around £364,000 being distributed to Keighley-district projects.

Rebecca Birkbeck, director of community and shared value at the Co-op, said: “The Local Community Fund is now a well-established way of supporting causes which help to make communities safer, happier and healthier places to live.

“We’re delighted to be able to support such a wide range of groups as they help to improve wellbeing in Keighley.

“By choosing their local cause online, our members are telling us what really matters in their communities – and we have used this information to help us identify new groups to support throughout next year.”

Latest Keighley-district beneficiaries also include: All Saints’ Church (£3,029), 11th Keighley (Cullingworth) Scout Group (£1,623), Denholme Youth Café (£1,991), Parish of Keighley (£2,286), 2nd Riddlesden Rainbows (£1,623), Wilsden Primary School (£2,191), Oakworth Methodist Church (£2,625), Oxenhope Under Fives (£1,764), Cullingworth Pre-School (£1,704), DMI Community Centre (£1,948), Friends of Phoenix Special School (£2,393), 5th Keighley (East Morton) Scout Group (£1,704), Wilsden Village Nursery School (£2,080), Oakworth Community Trust (£2,859), Oxenhope Community Association (£1,805), Silsden Sports Club (£4,124), Cullingworth Village Hall Management Committee (£1,683), Pass on Preloved Items (POPI) Keighley (£2,505), Airedale Cricket Club (£1,626), Throstle Nest Riding for the Disabled (£2,281), KYDZ-Keighley’s Youth Theatre (£2,719), Manorlands (£3,246), Sutton’s Got Brass (£6,701), Friends of Silsden`s Green Places (£4,421) and Silsden Local History Group (£4,039).