Grant support for women's centre expansion

A centre supporting women and children in Keighley has received a grant of £164,000 to expand its premises.

The money, from the Keighley Towns Fund, has been matched by further funding from supporters of the Keighley Association for Women and Children's Centre (Kawacc), according to Bradford Council.

The investment will allow the centre to expand into its existing car park to create a purpose-built social enterprise hub.

Chief executive Naz Kazmi said the expansion reflected the strength, resilience and potential of the community itself.

"This expansion is about hope, dignity and opportunity," she said.

"Every single day we stand alongside women and families facing some of the toughest challenges imaginable - isolation, mental ill health, poverty and unemployment.

"This new space will allow us to reach further, support deeper and change even more lives."

Bradford Council said the work the charity delivered in Keighley had been "invaluable".

"They have supported countless women to empower themselves and given many access to opportunities they would never have otherwise had," said Alex Ross-Shaw, the authority's policy holder for transport, regeneration and planning.

The chair of the government-funded Keighley Towns Fund Tim Robbins said Kawacc supported the community in a variety of ways.

"We are proud to support this ambitious redevelopment and look forward to seeing the extraordinary impact it will continue to make," he said.

Ms Kazmi said the charity was "profoundly grateful" for the funding.

She said the funds were not just an investment in a building but an "investment in people, futures and lasting change".

She praised the centre's staff for the work they did to ensure every woman and child who came to the centre felt "supported, safe and empowered".

"We help women to develop their skills, rebuild confidence and step into employment when they are ready.

"Everything we do is rooted in trust. Our purpose is to raise self-worth, grow confidence and empower women to take control of their futures."

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