A protest is to take place in Bradford city centre this week against the system of charging for social care in England.

The event has been organised by the Bradford branch of the Alzheimer’s Society, whose members will be making their voices heard on Friday between noon and 2pm in New Market Place.

Members of the branch and supporters will be urging passers-by to sign a petition to support a campaign to end what they say is an unjust system of charging for social care.

The petition will then be handed over to the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Howard Middleton, to be forwarded to the Government. Coun Middleton has chosen the charity to benefit from his Lord Mayor’s Appeal.

The protest is part of a major day of action nationally by the Alzheimer’s Society to highlight that thousands of people with dementia and their carers are unfairly charged for essential care they need as a result of a devastating medical condition.

The Society has argued that this care, which includes help with washing, eating and using the toilet, penalises people with dementia more than people with other conditions because the majority of the care they receive is classed as social care and is means-tested.

Rachel Exley, administrator of the Bradford and district branch of The Alzheimer’s Society, said: “People with dementia and their carers face discrimination and injustice every day. “They experience obstacles in accessing high quality care and services, they are discriminated against by the current system of charging for care and they face a general lack of understanding and disinterest in a disease that is so devastating.

“That is why Bradford branch of the Alzheimer’s Society is campaigning for a better deal for people with dementia and their carers. We can only break down barriers and improve the lives with of people with dementia by putting pressure on key politicians and policy makers.

“We will be gathering at New Market Place near Waterstones and asking local people to sign our petition on Friday from 12noon to 2pm. The Lord Mayor will accept our petition and send it on to the Secretary of State for Health.

“We urge local people to come and support us.”

For more information about the campaign and its aims visit alzheimers.org.uk