A KEIGHLEY wellbeing and peer support organisation has received a boost thanks to cash seized from criminals.

Missing Peace has been awarded nearly £6,000 from the Safer Communities Fund, which distributes money recovered by police and prosecutors from criminal activities to good causes.

In the past year, the fund – administered by West Yorkshire mayor Tracy Brabin – has supported 173 projects, with grants totalling over £1 million.

The Missing Peace funding has enabled the organisation to launch a Power of Peer Support programme, which encourages people to share their experiences to help one another.

Face-to-face and online support groups have been introduced, with up to 20 sessions a week.

Emma Gibson, chief executive officer and co-founder of Missing Peace, says: "We are extremely grateful for the support provided by the mayor's Safer Communities Fund.

"As a small organisation, funding is so important to help us to continue to provide mental health and wellbeing support within the community.

"The mayor’s fund has helped us to create a safe space for people to come to, share experiences and support each other. This creates a network of support where the community helps the community, reducing social isolation, improving mental health and wellbeing and working towards reducing suicide."

West Yorkshire’s deputy mayor for policing and crime, Alison Lowe, has visited the group to learn more about its work.

She said: "Our mental health is so important, and that’s why we’re supporting projects like Missing Peace.

"By providing a safe space, they’re empowering people to share their experiences and support one another.

"With the mayor’s Safer Communities Fund, we’re showing criminals that crime doesn’t pay. Instead, money previously associated with criminal activities is now making a real, positive difference to people’s lives."

For more about the Safer Communities Fund, visit westyorks-ca.gov.uk/policing-and-crime/mayor-s-safer-communities-fund.

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.

Earlier this year, it received backing from Keighley's Big Local partnership to train up to six people in what's known as Intentional Peer Support, where mutually supportive relationships are created.

Missing Peace trains all its volunteers in-house in Intentional Peer Support to give them the skills for supporting people, through leading groups or in one-to-ones.

For more about the organisation, visit missingpeace.org.uk.