The Liberal Democrats have unveiled their Bradford Cares campaign in a bid to stop Bradford Council moving ahead with social care cuts to more than 2,000 vulnerable residents.

Bradford East MP David Ward was joined by the former Care Services Minister Paul Burstow MP, Scope and other charities to start the campaign this afternoon which is supported by Bradford and District Disabled People’s Forum.

More than 80 people representing charities, including Rosemary Frazer, community campaigns manager at Scope, Keith Nathan, chief executive of Bradford and District Age UK, and Jean Walker, of Bradford & District Senior Power, were at the event, where members made posters about what Bradford Care means to them.

The Fair Access to Care consultation by the Council is looking at raising the threshold to “substantial” or “critical” so those with “moderate” needs would no longer get home help, potentially affecting the 2,000 people. The consultation closes next month.

Speaking at the event at at the Carlisle Business Centre, Mr Ward said: “Bradford Cares is a fantastic joint effort with many local charities to help fight against the devastating cuts that the council are proposing to make to more than 2,000 really vulnerable local people in Bradford.

“It is about showing that Bradfordians care about whether our loved ones get the help and support that they need and deserve.

“We are talking about stopping help with the real basics in life like getting up, washing, cooking or socialising with others. Wouldn’t you want this kind of help for your family or loved ones if they needed it? “It is a false economy cutting FACS on a cost basis, because as people detoriate, it gets more expensive and they need even more support. We care, I care and this is the way we show it.”

Mr Burstow said: “It is great that David is doing this as not many MPs do it as successfully as he does. He has gone out of his way to survey local people and it means they are very informed. It is about the changes the Government is making to social care.

“Loneliness is as potent as any disease and a study shows that lack of relationships is as damaging as smoking, drinking or obesity. Cash has been given by the Government which will go towards Health and Wellbeing Boards which are very new and very important way of breaking some of those barriers and helping people.”

For details on Bradford Cares visit http://bradfordcares.org/en.