A WELLBEING and peer support organisation is the latest initiative to receive backing from Keighley's Big Local partnership.

Missing Peace has secured £3,200 of Local Trust funding through the partnership.

The grant will be used to help train up to six people in so-called Intentional Peer Support, where mutually supportive relationships are created.

Emma Gibson, for Missing Peace, says: "We are grateful to have received the support from Keighley Big Local.

"We train all our volunteers in-house in Intentional Peer Support to give them the skills for supporting people, whether that’s through leading groups or in one-to-ones.

"Intentional Peer Support relationships are viewed as partnerships that invite and inspire both parties to learn and grow, rather than one person needing to ‘help’ another. It also encourages us to increasingly live and move towards what we want, instead of focusing on what we need to stop doing or avoid."

Missing Peace runs several peer support and activity groups as well as one-to-one sessions and online services, and provides motivational speaking, a wellness recovery action plan and mental health and suicide 'first aid'.

Yoga, meditation and Reiki are also on offer.

Amongst those to have already completed the Intentional Peer Support course is Parkwood resident Claire Denby.

She says: "The course was a great experience. I learned things about myself, as I have suffered with mental ill health.

"I hope that by sharing my experiences it might help other people going through the same thing.

"I'm looking forward to working with Missing Peace and helping others."

Shaun O'Hare, of Keighley Big Local, says: "We are pleased to be in a position to support the work of Missing Peace, through the Big Local community fund.

"Missing Peace is a good business with social purpose, which strives to ensure everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets both support and respect.

"The Big Local partnership is active with residents throughout its area – people who help and support others on a day-to-day basis, and are the backbone of a community.

"The Intentional Peer Support training is an opportunity for people like Claire to take their voluntary efforts to another level and help more people through the work of Missing Peace."

Since its launch, Keighley Big Local has provided a catalyst for a number of new groups including Cafe Eden, the River Worth Friends and Parkwood Community Group.

For more about Missing Peace, go to missingpeace.org.uk.