'Give a life' for the new millennium

The project is part of a review being carried out at the Keighley and District Disabled People's Centre (KDDPC) to develop an international Charter for the Millennium to be launched throughout Europe in the year 2000.

The Keighley News has given its backing to the scheme as part of the newspaper's millennium community celebrations.

Plans for the future of the centre at Temple Row have been given a major boost with Bradford council agreeing a 25-year lease for the property. It means the KDDPC - recognised throughout the world for its pioneering work - can now plough ahead with its future plans.

The centre has to raise £50,000 a year to run its services.

One major plan is to increase the number of classes for slow learners. Currently it can only provide 138 hours of training a year with the funds available.

Advice officer Keith Bell says: "The problem is that we cannot achieve continuous training through lack of funds. As students have to wait for further funding we find they drop back to square one on their achievements. We are now seeking funding for full-time tutors."

For that part of the campaign the centre is looking for £19,000 to cover the costs of a teacher and a trainee teacher. It also needs five computers, three printers, software and other IT items.

Centre members hope businesses and individuals will agree to sponsor a student and give them a life for the new millennium.

Fundraising helper David Samuels says: "The sum of finances needed is for one year only. It would be 'seeding' finance.

"With this training the slow learners will have a basic qualification which can take them onto other training courses. Quite simply, we want to give them a life. We would hope some people would agree to sponsor a student through this training. But we need donations - no matter how big or small."

Other projects include bringing a medical room for chiropody and other services up to standard.

The centre says over 4,000 jobs could be made available under the Jobmatch Project - where a database will match the skills and abilities of a disabled person with a particular job opportunity.

It also wants to provide a room where aids and adaptations for the home can be put on display.

The centre has also revealed an ambitious extension project to create more space. It will involve a new extension on stilts over the car park to provide six new offices and two new training rooms to be used by various charities.

Keighley News editor Malcolm Hoddy says: " All over the district schemes are already in action and others are being planned to improve the quality of life for people from all walks of life with varying abilities for the new millennium.

"The KDDPC scheme is one of the first. For example, with this extra training the slow learners can play an active and useful role in our community instead of being virtual prisoners in their homes.

"They can be given a life for the new millennium. We are delighted to be able to support this aim and will be giving publicity to all other schemes as and when they are announced."

If you can help the KDDPC by

giving either money, goods or

services then please contact the

centre on 01535 606700.

Textphone - Minicom 01535 610061.

Or you can send donations - no cash - with cheques payable to KDDPC, to Mrs Annette Bell c/o Keighley and District Disabled

peoples Centre, The Temple Row Centre, 23, Temple Row, Keighley, BD13 4NQ.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.