When it comes to labours of love, they don't work much harder than Carolyn Gatenby.

She provides a home from home in her Stockbridge semi for five separate disabled youngsters.

She spends many hours of her days, evenings and weekends acting as a surrogate parent so the children's families can have a break.

And despite the challenges of catering for youngsters aged from five to 17, she wouldn't swap her experiences for the world.

"It's different to being a parent or teacher," she says. "I'm a friend. I enjoy their company.

"You become part of the child's family - at first it's friends then all of a sudden it's something deeper."

A Shared Care stalwart for six years, Carolyn is now spearheading Bradford council's drive to find more parents.

She and Allyson Joy - parent of one of Carolyn's young clients, Thomas - are helping publicise the benefits to youngsters, parents and carers.

The council's social services department needs people willing to give 35 days a year or more to care for a child or adult with disabilities.

Carers do not need any qualifications or experience, just commitment and a warm and caring environment.

They receive training, support and a small fee.

Carolyn is keen to point out that not all carers have to put in as much time as she does. "It doesn't have to be overnight," she says.

"Even a couple of hours can help someone. One of my girls just comes for tea, but it means her brothers and sisters have time of their own."

"It's how it works for each family. It's so they can spend quality time with their own children."

Children are introduced to their new carers slowly, visiting for short periods first with their parents then alone for increasing amounts of time.

Carolyn says: "After a few times you know whether it's going to work - the parents, the child and the carer. Luckily the ones I've had have been beautiful."

Carolyn joined Shared Care at the end of her long-time contract looking after an individual child at Branshaw Special School.

She says: "I thought I'd see how rewarding it was - I enjoyed the challenge and seeing them develop."

"You're more relaxed in your home. They're coming here to have a good time - to have a friend.

"I try to take each one as an individual. When they come here it's their time - they're finding their own friends outside the house.

"They go with me when I visit my family. I've got two brothers with seven children - they treat them the same. We go on trips together."

Carolyn finds it rewarding to see that parents have also benefited from their time away from their child.

She says: "A boy like Tom can be up all night - but to see his parents the next day you know they've had a good night's sleep.

Thomas Joy, the first child to visit Carolyn, is still with her six years later and is now 12 years old.

Thomas's mother Allyson says that Shared Care has proved a boon to both herself and Thomas.

Thomas suffers autism, meaning he has problems communicating with people, and depends heavily on routine and structured activities.

"He's bright as a button," says Allyson. "He knows what he wants, and he tries his best to let us know, but we get frustrated and he does.

"He's a credit to us, a lovely boy. He's got a lovely sensitive nature and a wicked sense of humour, but he doesn't understand other people's emotions and feelings."

Handing Thomas over to another carer did not come easily to Allyson, even though Thomas took to Carolyn after just a couple of visits.

"I'm one of those mums who always believe they should care for their children. I found it hard to let go," says Allyson.

"When Thomas went away the first few times I spent all the time thinking of him. On overnight stays I couldn't sleep because he wakes me other nights."

Breaks from the 24-hours-a-day demands of looking after Thomas have allowed Allyson and her husband to devote time solely to their 15-year-old daughter Charlotte.

But Allyson says that while the trio might go swimming or for a relaxing meal, they do not always do something special.

"Sometimes we do absolutely nothing. We might eat in the living room, food we like, or have the big light on which Thomas won't allow," she says.

"When you live with Thomas everything revolves around him. I know he's happy when he's away, we're more relaxed, we all get more sleep.

"I love Thomas, but when he goes now I switch off, because if I don't there's no point him going."

Allyson says that Thomas loves to go to Carolyn's house. "Carolyn is excellent with him - she loves him.

"It's like he's got an extended family. He mixes with other children and has an opportunity to experience other things."

Anyone interested in becoming a carer with Shared Care should contact Social Services staff on 01274 754596.