THREE Keighley 'community champions' have been recognised for their work.

Emma Gibson, Nick Smith and Jimmy Vaughan, from mental health and wellbeing charity Missing Peace Wellbeing and Support, were invited to a reception at 10 Downing Street.

After a tour of Parliament, with Keighley MP Robbie Moore, the trio met Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

The reception was attended by invited representatives of community groups from across the country.

Emma and Nick set up their first peer support group in Keighley in 2013, and went on to establish Missing Peace Wellbeing and Support four years later.

The charity provides a range of support to help people with their mental health and wellbeing, including peer support and activity groups, one-to-one sessions and online services, and it offers motivational speaking, a wellness recovery action plan and mental health and suicide 'first aid'.

Provision also includes yoga, meditation and Reiki, plus so-called Intentional Peer Support, where mutually supportive relationships are created.

Mr Moore said: "Our community thrives thanks to passionate people who care deeply about our town and wider area. It was therefore an absolute honour to invite three incredible individuals to No 10 Downing Street to meet the Prime Minister for a community champions reception.

"I would like to pay tribute to Emma, Nick and Jimmy from Missing Peace Wellbeing and Support for all they do in Keighley and our wider area to help people with their mental health and wellbeing. It is hugely appreciated and I can’t thank them and their volunteers enough."

Emma and Nick said: "It was an honour to be invited to the reception at Downing Street and to be recognised as community champions for Keighley. We don’t do the work for accolades, we do it because we care about people."

And Jimmy added: "I must have said 'this is mad, in it?' 500 times during our visit to London!

"It was a huge honour to attend the reception and meet the Prime Minister.

"I never expected any of this.

"I do what I do not for awards or recognition, but because I want people to know that they aren't alone in how they think or feel, and that it is OK to speak out, to get support and talk to someone.

"Together we can beat the stigma that still exists around these issues."

For further information about Missing Peace Wellbeing and Support and its provision, go to missingpeace.org.uk.