GROUPS in Keighley, Cullingworth and Denholme have received grant cash from the Co-op.

The money, raised through purchases from customers, will support buildings regularly used by members of the community.

Funding has been given to All Saints Parish Church in Highfield, Cullingworth Village Hall Management Committee, and Denholme Youth Café.

The retail group said the latest grants brought to £57,000 the amount of money that have been given to ‘community places’ in the local area in just over two years.

Since the Co-op launched its Local Community Fund in September 2016, 2,000 local causes across the UK had received just under £5 million, including 32 in Keighley.

The Local Community Fund involves Co-op members receiving a five per cent reward for themselves with a further one per cent going to local causes when they buy own-brand products.

Members can decide how the money is allocated, and are encouraged to select the causes they wish to support online.

Rebecca Birkbeck, Director of Community Engagement at the Co-op, said: “Our members are passionate about protecting community spaces and places which are so important when it comes to enhancing quality of life.

“The Co-op is driven by its distinctive values and principles - last year we invested £19 million in over 4,000 groups UK-wide, supporting a wide range of initiatives, all of which are helping to make communities across the UK safer, happier, and healthier places to live.

“The more people shop, the more we share, and the more impact we can have in communities. People can get involved by becoming a member, swiping their card, and choosing the cause they want to support.

"By choosing their local cause, our members are telling us what really matters in their communities.”