Cash from a national fund has helped improve the lives of disabled teenagers at a Keighley youth club.

Aiming High money has paid for residential trips and activities like Go-Karting and bowling.

The activities have helped improve the young people’s confidence, independence, behaviour and ability to socialise with others. The teenagers attend the long-established Wednesday Leisure Club, which meets at Keighley Leisure Centre.

Led by Jacqui McDonald and several volunteers, it is run jointly by Bradford Council Youth Service and Bradford Disability Sport & Leisure.

The regular activities have been boosted over the past two years by trips out, mostly funded through the Government’s Aiming High fund. The fund is designed to help disabled youngsters and their families get support to live ordinary lives, with much of the spending going on short breaks.

Graham Walker, Keighley’s senior youth worker, said many young people had developed and benefited from their involvement in such activities. He said skills learned on the activities have led to some of the disabled youngsters joining the Leisure Club’s management committee.

He added: “It is tremendously successful and tremendously popular — there is a waiting list for membership.”

One 18-year-old with autism has become more able to socialise and gain control of his personality following residential trips in the Lake District.

Mr Walker said: “He grew in strength and was able to relax and engage fully and enjoy what he was doing.” A girl aged 16 with several medical problems, as well as learning difficulties, has developed strong relationships with new friends.

Mr Walker said: “She finds the club and the activities very rewarding and it has made her more independent and more determined to succeed.”

A teenager with cerebral palsy was able to go on trips for the first time because Aiming High money paid the extra costs of the one-to-one support worker she needed.

A 17-year-old autistic boy, who has won several medals in Special Olympics, has shone despite his difficulty with communication and understanding.

Mr Walker said: “He participated in almost all the activities provided through the Aiming High programme and enjoyed every minute.”