A BRADFORD charity is helping to spearhead a Government project to get carers back into work.

The Carers’ Resource, which is based in Saint Paul's Road, Shipley, has played a key role in helping more than 200 people who look after loved ones back into employment.

The charity, which also has a site in Skipton, was invited by Ministers to share its expertise in Yorkshire on a national stage at the launch of Carers in Employment.

This £1.6 million project is designed to look at new ways of helping people balance their day-to-day caring responsibilities with work.

Anne Smyth, founding director of the charity, said: "This is an initiative designed to open up more employment opportunities for carers and provide them with the unique support they need to stay in work and make a positive contribution.

"It will also prompt employers and recruitment agencies to wake up to the energy and enthusiasm that carers can bring to a role.

"Giving carers extra support to manage caring alongside paid work would not only benefit them and their families, it would also give British businesses and the UK economy potential savings of up to £1.3 billion a year."

Conrad Taylor, 51, of Baildon, was one of the Carers' Resource's home-grown success stories who attended the launch.

A carer for 38 years, he was a university lecturer in statistical analysis and psychology, before leaving his career to look after his father until his death in 2013 from cancer.

After five years out of work, he has now restarted his life with a job as an information officer at the Carers’ Resource in Shipley.

He said: "Anything that lifts some of the barriers to employment that many carers face is a welcome step forward.

"From my own experience, there are many additional attributes that carers develop as part of their role, such as time management and organisational skills.

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"This should be seen by employers as strengthening the appeal of the CV in front of them."

This project builds on the Care Act which came into force earlier this month and puts carers on a par with the people they support with regard to their health and well-being.

Councils will have a duty to meet carers’ eligible needs for support and to consider the wellbeing of carers, which includes their need for learning and employment.

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Bradford Council's executive member for employment, skills and culture, said: "It's great that this local project has been singled out as an exemplar nationally.

"Carers fulfil a really valuable role in society and those who want to find work should be supported to do so.

"I know from the Council's own Get Bradford Working programme that carers have many skills and talents to share."