A call to arms was today made to Bradford's most caring employees - "come and help your own community".

Businesses have joined forces across the Bradford district to help launch Bradford Cares - and are offering their employees the chance to give something back to the people around them.

In what is to be a major initiative, companies like the Yorkshire Building Society and the Inland Revenue are pitching in to help members of their communities who may simply be in need of volunteers.

Joanne Howarth, community development officer for the Yorkshire Building Society, one of Bradford Cares' founders, took part in a pilot scheme last June at the Cancer Support Centre in Daisy Hill where her staff helped clear a seating area for the patients.

And she is bristling with enthusiasm for the scheme.

"Bradford Cares is a very simple way to get involved in volunteering. The project workers take the hard work out of it by finding the projects which need help, you just turn up on the day," she said.

"It's a great way for staff to get new experiences and meet people you wouldn't normally bump into. It's also a great laugh and very good for morale."

Now more businesses are being urged to get involved - starting with action days on June 7, 8 and 9.

Volunteers, or "time-givers", can be involved in projects as diverse as serving pupils breakfast before they start school to planting trees for a conservation group.

And volunteers can give up as much or as little time as they want.

Bradford Cares is run by the Business in the Community group, which itself was set up in the light of the devastating Toxteth riots in Liverpool in 1985.

It took its lead from similar schemes in America and encourages firms to get involved with non-profit making organisations on their very own doorsteps.

A key element of Bradford Cares is that its own staff broker the events between the businesses and the community - but the volunteers manage and organise the challenges.

Often those taking part will be allowed to take part in the projects during work time and some may even take charge of a project themselves - earning valuable experience which they can bring back into the work place.

Jo Crossley, Bradford Cares co-ordinator, said scores of Bradford businesses were already lined up to take part in the project's official launch at Bradford Action Day on the three days in June.

A leadership team meeting for businesses who are already supporting Bradford Cares will be held on Wednesday, May 23.

She said: "A lot of businesses already take part in community activities, but the idea of Bradford Cares is that it's a collaborative approach to community involvement.

"Many companies recognise that as a business they can have some positive impact on the community by utilising their skills, but they don't have the time to organise anything.

"What Bradford Cares aims to do is to plug the projects and volunteer groups who don't often have the contacts and financial power to help themselves and get them in touch with companies willing to help.

"We are not here to compete with voluntary groups, this is all about involving businesses in the local community."