A project to help unpaid carers in the Bradford district back into work will start next month as new figures show half of them want employment.

The weekly ‘work club’ has been developed by the Shipley -based charity Carers’ Resource after figures from Carers UK show there are 47,886 carers in the district – but only 50 per cent of them are in work.

The new Carers’ Resource employment and training enterprises (CReate), funded by Job Centre Plus, will offer carers one-to-one advice on topics including writing a CV and good interview techniques as well as the opportunity to search for vacancies, find out about college courses and understand their employment rights.

Maralyn Adey, who cares after her son Kristian, 27, who has Down’s Syndrome as well as heart and lung problems, is now retired but did work part time.

She said: “If carers want to work they should be able to, even if it’s just something for them to do for a few hours.

“You get bogged down doing what you’re doing. You don’t often meet other people and you don’t get much stimulation. You’re just so dedicated to doing what you’re doing.”

Mrs Adey, of Wrose , Shipley, said a lot of carers struggled to make ends meet, with Carer’s Allowance working out at about £1.65 an hour.

“You get £58 a week, but you have to be a carer for over 35 hours a week – so that works out as less than minimum wage. It’s a token payment really.

“Caring is a 24-hour job, 365 days a year.

“That can be a problem when carers do find work – that employers don’t understand their caring role.

“But I think the job club is a wonderful idea.”

The free drop-in sessions will be held at the charity’s base at Unit 15, Park View Court , St Paul’s Road, Shipley, every Monday between 10am and noon from September 3.

“We know from the role they have looking after loved ones that there is no shortage of skills among carers in our community,” said the scheme’s organiser Stella Elson.

“CReate is designed to equip them with the expertise, confidence and know-how to either support them back into employment, or guide them into training and learning opportunities.”

She added: “This is another example of how we are striving to add an extra dimension to the range of activities that the charity has developed to meet the needs of local carers in many different ways.”

For more information, call (01274) 449660 or