A FORMER teacher who set up her own craft shop is giving something back to the Shipley-based charity which inspired her.

Angela Malcolm had successfully exhibited and sold her handmade goods at a Carers' Resource pop-up shop last year.

She subsequently opened her own not-for-profit shop, Been Busy, in Kirkgate, Silsden.

Now the 55-year-old former food technology teacher is thanking the charity for its support by staging a free workshop for carers.

She will demonstrate the art of transforming candles using rubber stamping and talk about how the pop-up shop, staged as part of the Carers' Resource CReate programme, changed her life.

The workshop is at the Carers' Resource base at Park View Court, St Paul's Road, Shipley, from 10am to noon on Thursday, June 25.

Mrs Malcolm, who was a carer for her mother until her death, said: "The experience of taking part in the pop-up shop was very powerful, as I saw the impact it had on people when they were able to achieve something for themselves. They were making things themselves and selling them.

"I had such a positive response to my work and as well as selling it, I also earned some commissions.

"It really helped boost my confidence and so many of the people who were involved have gone on to do other things because of it – it's been a wonderful catalyst."

She opened her shop last November and other carers, including some who were involved in the pop-up scheme, also sell their goods there.

Mrs Malcolm, of Silsden, runs it with husband Neil and they are in the process of registering as a community interest company.

The couple are also Shared Carers for Bradford Council and provide short breaks for young people with additional needs.

Through additional support from CReate, Mrs Malcolm was helped to gain funding for four sewing machines and access to a mentor to help develop her ideas.

Candy Squire-Watt, the CReate facilitator at Carers' Resource, said: "Angela is an inspiration to others and has achieved so much through her enthusiasm and determination.

"We're delighted she is coming back to give this free workshop and her story will also have a great influence on others and may even help to encourage some to follow in her footsteps.

"Caring can be an isolating and overwhelming experience and many find the responsibilities dominate their life. This can have a big knock-on effect for their own confidence and self-esteem.

"Through CReate and our workshops, groups and sessions, we help to re-build that confidence and point carers in the right direction so they can go on to realise their full potential."

E-mail cswatt@carersresource.org or call 01274 449660 to book a place at the workshop.