A NEW recovery and rehabilitation centre for people with mental health conditions has opened in Glusburn.

Enhanced Community Healthcare Options (ECHO) held an opening ceremony in October for its specialist care facility, Malsis Hall, in the former Malsis School which closed in 2014.

Keighley town mayor Councillor Peter Corkindale joined Craven Council chief executive Paul Shevlin to plant a cherry tree in the grounds.

The Grade II listed building has been converted into a care centre catering for people living within a 30-mile radius, including Keighley, referred by local authorities or the NHS

Guests at the opening ceremony were given a tour of the facilities, which include residential suites and apartments, communal areas, community meeting rooms, three sports pitches and a sports pavilion.

It is hoped that the historic building and its amenities will become a hub for the local community.

Andrew Shelton-Murray, director of ECHO, said: “Renovating Malsis School into a specialist care facility has been a labour of love for our team. We are delighted that it’s now opened to receive referrals, and ready for local residents to come along and visit us, to make use of our meeting rooms and sports pitches.

“We’re also pleased to have been able to create 130 jobs for people in the region. Our aim has always been to provide a local service for local people by local people, and I’m happy to say that we are achieving this already.”

Mr Shevlin said he was delighted to see the "magnificent" listed building brought back into use for such a worthy cause, adding: "This new centre will benefit many people and provide employment within Craven.

“It’s also fantastic that Craven Council has secured the retention and upgrade of the surrounding playing fields and clubhouse to provide brilliant new football facilities for Sutton Juniors and other community football clubs in the area.”

ECHO described Malsis Hall as a specialist service holistically supporting adults with mental health conditions on their journey to recovery and independence.

A spokesman said: "It strives to provide care and support to enable the person to be as independent as they possibly can be, helping them to have a clear care pathway back into the community

"It provides opportunities to develop and maintain skills and coping strategies needed for everyday life, priding itself on early intervention.

"The pathway at Malsis Hall ensures the person builds and develops confidence enabling them to successfully progress down the various available living options onsite to living in the community.

"Malsis Hall places emphasis on maximising quality of life and reducing admissions into acute hospital settings. As a community project, it also contains three sports pitches, a sports pavilion and meeting rooms available to members of the public."