A KEIGHLEY-based organisation has launched a new project aimed at helping people with learning disabilities to take charge of their own health and wellbeing.

People First Keighley Craven is behind the initiative, which is designed to educate individuals about the importance of self-care and early intervention.

The project, funded by Keighley Community Health grants, will seek to raise awareness and provide information and training around accessing the right type of healthcare at the right time.

People First Keighley Craven – based at Central Hall, in Alice Street – is a self-advocacy group for people with learning disabilities, who run the charity.

They work together with the objective of breaking down barriers, bringing people together to train groups and sharing information with the wider community in a bid to help improve service delivery.

The new project is being led by Jessica Barraclough, a self-advocacy and enablement worker.

She said: “I am very excited to be leading the project and facilitating conversations about some of the barriers that people with learning disabilities face when managing their own health.

“Often it is very difficult for people with a learning disability to understand medical terms or feel that they can question their treatment options or ask for further support to understand their diagnosis.”

The group’s chief officer, Hanna Bennett, welcomes the initiative.

She said: “This is a new and exciting opportunity for local people to get involved.

“The project is really important to help people learn the skills needed for them to be able to manage their own health, especially now as Covid-19 has affected so many things and people are worried about who, how and when to seek help and advice.

“We want to support people with learning disabilities to feel confident to be able to get the correct health advice from the right health professional at the right time.”

She added that the group was keen to work with anyone with a learning disability who “would like their voice to be heard” to help develop the project further.

For more information about the project or to join People First Keighley Craven, call 01535 607222 or email admin@peoplefirstkc.com.

Alternatively, send a message via the Facebook page at en-gb.facebook.com/PeopleFirstKC1 or visit peoplefirstkc.co.uk for more details.