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Sangat Community Centre

A vibrant and inclusive community hub in the heart of Keighley.

We provide vital services including welfare advice, adult education, youth activities
and elderly day care in a safe accessible space, helping local residents overcome
barriers and build brighter futures.

Over 30 years, Sangat has grown from a small community initiative, initially providing advice, day care service and study support, into a thriving community hub, rooted in the heart of Keighley and shaped by the people who live here.

I am proud to have been part of this journey from the very beginning, alongside many other friends and colleagues who helped establish Sangat Centre and shape what it has become today.

Today, the Centre brings together opportunities for learning, health and wellbeing, youth activities and community events.

We are proud to welcome people from all backgrounds and generations, providing a place where people feel that they belong. The development of our facilities in recent years through the Towns Fund and Levelling Up grants has created new opportunities to build on this work with a fully refurbished building, refitted classrooms and IT room, a fabulous new floor in the main hall and upgraded electrics and heating system.

Looking ahead, our ambition is to continue developing in ways that are meaningful to our community. As Keighley changes, so too will the needs of its people, and Sangat must continue to listen and respond to the needs of the community. We will also continue to strengthen the partnerships and relationships that help us reach more people and create lasting opportunities.

I would like to thank our staff, volunteers, partners, funders and, most importantly, the people of our community for their continued trust and support.

Younis Qamar - Chairman

Every day, the Sangat Centre is brought to life by the people who walk through our doors. Through our wide range of services, we help individuals overcome barriers, access opportunities, and develop the skills and confidence needed to fulfil their potential.

We support young people through enrichment activities, adults through learning and qualifications, and older people through social day care. We also provide advice, guidance, health and wellbeing support, and a variety of trips, outings, and community activities.

What makes Sangat special is not only the breadth of our services but the strong sense of belonging they create. Our dedicated staff and volunteers bring energy, commitment, and experience to ensure everyone feels welcome, safe, supported, and valued.

Our programmes continue to evolve in response to community needs. We deliver projects across education, digital skills, health and wellbeing, youth provision, social day care, and arts and culture, working closely with local partners to provide high-quality services that make a real difference.

This year, we have introduced several new initiatives, including our Cycling Hub, offering bike maintenance workshops, group rides, and cycling practice sessions; Game, Set & Match, providing professional tennis coaching for young people; and our year-round Sunday Club, delivering study support, physical activity, and creative arts sessions.

Riasat Ali - Centre Manager

Stories of Growth

Case study 1 - From isolation to independence

This service user arrived with very limited English, beginning her learning journey at pre-entry level. Over time, and through consistent effort and dedication, she progressed to Entry Level 2 and went on to achieve her goal of obtaining British citizenship, a remarkable achievement that reflects her determination and the sustained support she received. Her journey has not been without significant personal challenge. Having relocated to the UK as a spouse, she took on a caring role

supporting her husband through serious illness. Following a significant change in her circumstances, she faced housing instability, moving between family members before finding stability. Through it all, her engagement with the Sangat Centre provided a consistent, safe space. She is now able to communicate effectively in English and has developed genuine independence in her daily life.

Case study 2 - Breaking Barriers, Building Independence

This service user had been a regular and engaged member of our wellbeing groups when she suddenly stopped attending. Family members who continued to come to the centre shared concerns that her growing independence, the learning, the confidence, the time spent outside the home, had become a source of conflict within her marriage. Further enquiries revealed that she and her husband, who has additional needs, were being locked in their home for extended periods by a family member. This situation had been ongoing for several months before it came to light.

The Sangat Centre played a pivotal role in the safeguarding response. When the service user attended a GP appointment with her husband, she was able to make contact with the centre. Using existing records, staff referred her to a social worker already involved in her husband’s care. This intervention proved life-changing. She re-engaged with confidence-building sessions and job clubs at the centre. She has since gained employment, alongside her husband, and is now living a happier, more independent life.

Case study 3 - Strength Through the Hardest of Times

This service user relocated to the UK from abroad with her three children, reuniting with her husband after years of living separately due to financial constraints. After several years together, her husband suffered a stroke, and she became his primary carer, navigating an unfamiliar country with limited english and little knowledge of UK systems. Following her husband’s passing, she continued to support her teenage children through grief and instability. When her daughter became seriously ill and was hospitalised, the trauma had a visible impact on her own physical health, she reported numbness in her legs and difficulty walking, requiring hospital assessment.

The Sangat Centre provided practical and emotional support throughout this period, including help applying for a bus pass and improving her ability to access services independently. Her story is one of extraordinary resilience, and her ongoing engagement with the centre continues to provide stability and connection during a deeply difficult chapter of her life.

Case study 4 - Finding stability and belonging

This service user relocated to the area from another part of the UK after becoming estranged from his family and children. On arrival, he experienced significant challenges adjusting to his new environment, including issues around housing, welfare, social isolation, and his overall wellbeing. The Sangat Centre provided him with a safe, welcoming space where he could access warm meals, refreshments, emotional support, and practical guidance from our team.

Recognising that he initially struggled in busy environments, we offered tailored one-to-one support by arranging quieter times for him to visit, speak with staff, receive relevant advice, and be signposted to other local services. Over time, the Sangat Centre has become a trusted and reliable support network for him — a place where he feels safe, connected, and able to access support when needed, helping him gradually integrate into the local community and improve his wellbeing.

Case study 5 - From recovery to recovery - engagement

One gentleman was referred to the Sangat Centre following a stroke, having previously disengaged from services due to a lack of confidence and reduced
motivation. Initially, he was reluctant to attend the Sangat men’s group, which reflects the experience of several service users who become more isolated and hesitant to participate in activities following serious health conditions such as strokes or heart attacks. Through encouragement and ongoing support from staff and peers, he gradually began attending sessions and engaging at his own pace. In the early stages, he participated only occasionally in seated exercise activities and chose not to join outings, workshops,

or creative sessions. However, over time his confidence, motivation, and social interaction increased significantly. He is now a valued and active member of the group, regularly participating in activities and contributing ideas and suggestions for future sessions. The positive transformation in his confidence, energy levels, and overall wellbeing has been recognised not only by group members and staff, but also by his family, who have commented on the significant difference in his outlook and engagement with life.