COMMUNITY groups in Keighley will share a £20 million funding boost from the Co-op.

Dozens of causes across the Keighley and South Craven area are amongst the latest beneficiaries of the Co-op’s local community fund.

Group set to receive several thousand pounds each include Manorlands, Oakworth Methodist Church, Cullingworth Village Hall, Keighley and Airedale Cancer Support and the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway.

Also on the list are Kildwick Primary School, 3rd Keighley (Steeton & Silsden) Scout Group, Glusburn Community & Arts Centre, Wilsden Village Hall, Friends of Phoenix Special School and Denholme Youth Cafe.

The Co-op says that because 40 per cent of all charities survive on an income of less than £10,000, the scheme will provide a considerable proportion of funding from any groups.

When a Co-op member buys own-brand products from food stores or a funeral plan or funeral from Funeralcare they earn a five per cent reward for themselves with a further one per cent going to local good causes.

By joining the Co-op’s membership scheme shoppers can choose which of these causes they wish to support by logging on to the Co-op’s membership website at coop.co.uk/membership.

Richard Walker, Area Manager for Co-op food stores, said: “As a community retailer we want to support the causes that matter most to Co-op members such as 11th Keighley (Cullingworth) Scout Group, so we would urge people to visit us online to choose who they would like to support, and then shop with us to ensure the good causes get the most out of the fund.

Other local beneficiaries: Aire Rivers Trust, 11th Keighley (Cullingworth) Scout Group, 1st Denholme Scout Group, Dementia Friendly Keighley Exercise Class, Oakworth Community Trust, Oxenhope Pre-School, 2nd Riddlesden Scouts, Pied Piper Pre-School and Harden Pre-school.