YOUTH activities across the Keighley area have been highlighted to Bradford councillors sitting on Keighley Area Committee.

Staff from the Keighley Area Coordinator’s Office provided updates on youth groups they had supported during 2018 in areas such as Silsden, Oxenhope and central Keighley.

Committee members were recently told that the Star Youth Project had reopened following the refurbishment of its premises in Melbourne Mills, off Dalton Lane.

Big Local had helped with the purchase of gym equipment, and volunteers had improve the facilities, for sessions with young people aged 14 to 21.

Recent donation of IT equipment through the Youth Service had proved particularly welcome, allowing the group to plan homework and study clubs, and helping young people into jobs.

Bradford Council’s Youth Service has also teamed up with The Hive, Silsden’s youth and community centre, to develop services for young people in the town.

A volunteer recruitment event was held in October, allowing residents and young people to put new ideas forward as well as offer to help.

A spokesman for the Area Coordinator’s Office said: “Further partnership meetings will continue at The Hive in 2019 in supporting young people.”

Oxenhope Youth Club members went along to the parish council to deliver their annual report, where they were thanked by the chairman for the contribution to the club’s success.

The club hosted 34 sessions through the 2017/18 academic year, each one attended by an average of 28 young people.

The club is supported by Bradford Council and Oxenhope Parish Council, and carries out its own fundraising as well as receiving grants and donations from other sources.

The spokesman said: “Young people help to manage and organise the club while consulting with those who attend to help shape the provision.

“Each week the club provides pool, table tennis, PlayStation for gaming sessions, arts and crafts, and music. It also organises activities such as cook-and-eat, fire-building and outdoor games.”

The Youth Service runs a weekly Youth in Mind Group in Keighley for young people need some support. Activities have included cooking and-eat sessions, games, and fun around a fire pit.

Within the Youth in Mind group young people can explore issues that affect mental health, and provide each other with support. Many of them also take along a friend or sibling for moral support.

In Keighley West ward, young people have taken part educational and fun visits, played team games in local parks, and joined Keighley MP John Grogan at the Voice and Influence event.