A PROJECT helping the well-being of school children in Burley-in-Wharfedale has been selected for support by the Co-op Local Community Fund.

Every time you shop in the Co-op in the Otley area you could be raising funds for the Burley-in-Wharfedale Community Trust’s support of the Unique training programme. This means trained volunteers can run a series of courses for children at two primary schools in the village to help with pupils' mental health and self-esteem.

Around 250 Burley-in-Wharfedale children have already been through the programme as well as a group of teenagers and in a couple of weeks, four newly-trained facilitators will be running three groups a week until July meaning all Year 6 pupils at Burley Oaks can take part.

Lead facilitator Becky Berry said: “Unique is just so important for our young people because it because it encourages them to share issues that matter to them in a space that is accepting, safe and non-judgemental. As young people learn to share their thoughts and feelings they become more confident about who they are, which in turn has a positive effect on their self-esteem, mental health and general well-being."

Burley-in-Wharfedale Community Trust (BWCT) thanks the Co-op Local Community Fund for its support to causes in the village over the years. BWCT also celebrated its relationship with the local village Co-op store, which included a raffle drawn just before Christmas which raised £276 for the Burley Christmas lights. BWCT chairman Duncan Ault said: “The Trust has been very fortunate in being given a further grant this year and we really value our relationship with the Co-op.”

Every time blue Co-op Card members buy selected Co-op branded products and services, 2p for every pound spent goes to the member and the Co-op gives the same amount to support community organisations. There are three new local causes chosen each year, and a member can either select one or the funds are divided equally between the three. Otley and Ilkley have a different set of three.

Causes supported in Burley by the Co-op Local Fund through the Community Trust over the last couple of years include the well-equipped children’s section in the library and some planned accessible footpath works. This latter piece of work, in partnership with Walkers are Welcome, aims to make sure selected footpaths in the village can be safely navigated by anyone on wheels, whether a wheelchair, a buggy or a scooter.