An organisation which caters for Asian women and children is about to re-launch services which were disrupted four years ago when fire chiefs said their centre failed to meet regulations.

The re-launch coincides with Keighley Asian Women and Children's Centre's £39,000 grant from Children in Need to employ two outreach workers who will specialise in working with women and children in their homes.

A fire escape is being fitted this week thanks to a package of Single Regeneration Budget cash totalling £65,752 which the group won to buy the building and improve facilities since 1996.

And the charity's management committee is about to interview people to fill the posts of outreach workers.

Acting manager Lisa Brett said: "We had a lot of services working upstairs but we had to withdraw them because the fire service said the room wasn't safe.''

It hit Citizen Advice services, a sewing and typing class, a parents and toddlers' group and a number of other services.

It was now hoped to re-introduce a number of new services and plans were also being made to use the building as a centre for all the courses in English as a second language run by Keighley College.

Other services would include health education, language courses, and arts group, childcare and health and fitness sessions.

"We hope it will become a centre for a number of services so that Asian women who bring their children here can also access other facilities,'' said Lisa.

Centre treasurer Fakhara Rehman said: "By centralising the services women can feel safe and secure in coming here and accessing what they need.

"The new outreach workers will work with women in their homes, teaching parenting skills and helping to give confidence to those who feel isolated."

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