A HOSPITAL charity is helping to promote health and wellbeing amongst the district's schoolchildren.

Airedale Hospital and Community Charity has visited several schools in the area with donations of health-related books.

The team called at Crossflatts, Cullingworth, Glusburn and Oakworth primaries, plus Beckfoot Priestthorpe in Bingley.

All the schools are within the catchment area of Airedale NHS Foundation Trust.

Donated books covered topics including how to look after your health and wellbeing, what to expect when you visit a hospital, the workings of your body, and feelings and diversity.

The visits were made to coincide with World Book Day and formed part of the charity's Acts of Kindness campaign – an initiative which aims to spread generosity and positivity, both within Airedale NHS Foundation Trust and across the wider community.

Jodie Hearnshaw – manager of Airedale Hospital and Community Charity, which is the official charitable arm of the NHS trust – says the scheme has now run successfully for several years.

She adds: "We were delighted that we could take our Acts of Kindness campaign on the road again – for a third year.

"Our local schools and young population are hugely important to us, so we wanted to extend an act of kindness to show them how special they are.

"We love World Book Day at Airedale, and with this project we were keen to highlight the importance of reading and creativity.

"Giving back to our community by donating books on being healthy, and understanding what it is like in a hospital, has been a fantastic experience.

"Over the past three years, we have now visited 15 schools. We always enjoy meeting the children and seeing them dressed up as their favourite book characters!"

Airedale Hospital and Community Charity was founded in 1995, and was originally known as Airedale NHS Trust Charitable Funds.

It was rebranded, and adopted its current name, in 2020.

The charity's aim is to enhance patient care and employee wellbeing by raising awareness, generating funds and providing other support.

Further information can be found on its website, at airedalecharity.org

World Book Day was marked by schools across the district, with many pupils – and staff – dressing up.

Keighley Library also hosted an event, at which visitors were invited to draw, or write about, their favourite books or characters.

Stocks of free World Book Day publications, and £1 book tokens, were on offer to participants.