Oxenhope is being used to pilot a neighbourhood help scheme to foster better links between local people and provide basic help to those who need it.

Noreen Akhtar, of Bradford Council’s Keighley area co-ordinator’s office, outlined the initiative to councillors at Oxenhope Parish Council.

She said Oxenhope was one of several areas chosen for the pilot, and noted the scheme builds on aspects of good neighbourliness which already exist in the village.

She added that council wardens were due to ask local residents whether they would like to volunteer to be Street Neighbourly Help co-ordinators. The wardens will also ask people if they need to receive help with simple tasks such as putting out their bins for collection.

People who come forward to be co-ordinators will make contact with the other residents on their street to find out whether they need assistance or are willing to offer help.

Councillor Tony Maw suggested the initiative should encompass Upwood Holiday Park, which is home to many elderly people.

Steve Taylor, an Oxenhope resident attending the meeting, said he was aware of the “appalling” care standards for older people nationally, which made him wonder whether there were vulnerable elderly individuals in his own village.

“I love living here and want to put something back,” he said. “There are a lot of retired people in Oxenhope who are quite healthy and would probably be able to put a few hours in helping others.”

He said additional groups in Oxenhope could be in need of support, including young unemployed people and single parents.

He suggested further ideas to improve the community, such as car sharing schemes and bulk buying energy to cut householders’ gas and electricity bills.

“There are a lot of things worth looking at, Oxenhope could be a model community,” he said.

Coun Maw warned that it was not always possible to identify vulnerable people, as some of them were too proud to admit they need help.

l The meeting was told that more than 20 youngsters were continuing to attend sessions of the village’s new youth club.

The project is being overseen by councillors Penny Cusdin and Derrick Hopkinson.

Coun Cusdin said the young people had been consulted about turning the club into an officially constituted group with its own managing committee.

She said seven of the youngsters volunteered to be on the committee, alongside adult supervisors.

She said the club was currently meeting in the village cricket club and in the community centre, but would have to stop using the premises when the new season began.