A Bradford charity hopes its new DVD launched yesterday will encourage more Muslim women into employment.

The Women At Work DVD, produced by Bradford-based community economic development agency QED UK, was launched in London at an event hosted by Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State at the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Featuring successful female role models from ethnic minority communities, the DVD explains the barriers they have had to overcome.

Deputy chief executive of QED UK, Adeeba Malik, said: "The barriers to employment for most Asian women in the UK include a lack of education, training and qualifications.

"Coupled with social and domestic pressures, this means women from ethnic minorities often lack the confidence and knowledge to join the country's workforce.

"We hope this DVD encourages women to come forward to help themselves find employment. QED UK can then help these women access training opportunities and find jobs, organise child care and help them improve their interview techniques."

Earlier this year, Miss Malik joined discussions led by Prime Minister Tony Blair which examined issues such as Muslim women's economic and social activity and the impact on good community relations.

The DVD is the latest scheme from QED UK's Government-backed Narrowing The Gap' project which aims to help 2,000 Pakistani and Bangladeshi men and women in the Yorkshire and Humber region to become economically active over the next three years, with 500 of them securing jobs.

Recent figures from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) show there is a 30 per cent employment gap between people with Bangladeshi and Pakistani origin and the rest of the community.

With just 25 per cent of Muslim women venturing into the workplace, QED hopes the new DVD will help to boost employment opportunities for Asian women in the UK.

e-mail: fiona.evans@bradford.newsquest.co.uk