A NEW Keighley organisation has ambitious plans to engage young people in improving one of the town's neighbourhoods.

Members of Youth Vision have already joined forces with Bradford Council to carry out a clean-up in the children's playground off Parson Street in Lawkholme.

But group chairman, Fulzar Ahmed, said he and his colleagues want to do much more.

"Youth Vision has been set up by local activists," he explained. "We are a community-led group aiming to provide various opportunities to inspire young people and help them achieve their potential.

"At present, our concentration is on the Lawkholme area, due to issues such as drug dealing, anti-social behaviour and a lack of play facilities.

"We are working closely with Bradford Council's Keighley Area Co-ordinator’s office and other organisations, and we're looking at any gaps in provision of public services."

Mr Ahmed, who is from Highfield but used to live in Lawkholme, said the group currently has eight volunteers and will be working with children and young people aged nine and above. Parents who live in this part of Keighley are said to be supportive of the organisation's objectives.

Mr Ahmed said Youth Vision plans to co-operate with the council to promote recycling in Lawkholme, and is intending to take on the role of a Friends of Victoria Park body.

"All the other parks in town have friends groups, so now we have an opportunity to do something similar for Victoria Park," he said.

"We would want to deal with issues such as flytipping, while getting people to pick up their own litter and making sure this is an environment where people feel safe and are happy to visit with their families.

"The park does have a bit of a black mark against its name, in terms of things like crime and anti-social behaviour, so this is something we'd like to tackle."

While Youth Vision does not yet have its own premises, it has plans to take young people on outings and to develop links with the elderly living in Emily Street.

Group secretary, Aroj Ali, said: "Youth Vision is run by dedicated volunteers trying to make a difference in their community. We believe together we can make a change.

"We are encouraging everybody to get behind us, as together we can achieve a lot."

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