SILSDEN Youth Centre will be relaunched next month following eight months of hard work by volunteers.

A group of residents took over the centre on April 1 in order to keep it open following Bradford Council spending cuts.

The building, on Elliot Street, has been renamed Silsden Youth and Community Centre to promote its use by people of all ages in the town.

The centre will officially reopen December 10 as part of a Christmas party running from 11am to 2pm.

Silsden mayor Peter Robinson will perform the opening, and Elsa and Olaf from the Disney film Frozen will meet and greet the children from 11am until 1pm.

Santa Claus will be in his grotto and there will be activities for children, along with refreshments, raffles and games.

Jill Cook, the CIC director, said: “Volunteers have been working hard to make sure that the building is maintained and that people started to use the facility.

“So far we have hired the centre to Sports Coaching England who have run three Sports Camp weeks and will be running another Christmas-themed Sports Camp holidays.

“Rugbytots have started to use the facility this month and several people have hired the centre for children's parties. Bricks4Kids ran ‘The Best Week Ever'.”

Early next year Gem Compliance will run first aid courses, including its new Flat Stan first aid for children course.

Jill added: “The Youth Club continue to use the facility and they are supporting us by helping with the current refurbishment in the main room.”

The volunteers are currently refurbishing the main function room with materials donated by local companies, while Jamie from JM Decorators is giving his time to paint the ceiling and gloss the woodwork.

Companies including Morrisons have donated items for the Christmas party.

Anyone willing to make further donations or fund a project at the Youth and Community Centre should call Jill Cook on 07794 366439.

Residents came together in February to save Silsden Youth Centre after Bradford Council decided to pull out at the end of the 2015/16 financial year.

An initial public meeting brought together people who already ran children’s activities, and a martial arts group in Silsden.

The residents were supported by town and district councillor Adrian Naylor to set up a group with a constitution, which could approach Bradford Council about taking over responsibility.

The council agreed to continue providing youth workers in Silsden, but could not afford to run the building itself.