WORK and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey visited Shipley today to see the work carried out by mental health and cancer support charities and unpaid carers.

Ms McVey had been invited by the town’s MP Philip Davies to see the work being carried out at the Macmillan Cancer Support offices at The Waterfront, and also at Carers’ Resource and the Cellar Trust.

At the Macmillan Cancer Support offices she spoke to some of the staff who help cancer sufferers with advice on financial products and services, energy advice and welfare rights.

She listened to some of the calls coming into the office on the free Macmillan Support Line and saw first hand how trained advised sufferers who were in need of help.

“Philip invited me to come along so see what a wonderful job Macmillan staff do to help cancer sufferers in what is often a very traumatic time for them.

“It is important sufferers are informed about what financial help is out there from the government and how they can access it.”

The visit also coincides with new figures released from the charity this week that show the number of people of working age (16 to 65) living with cancer grew by 10 per cent between 2010 and 2015.

In 2017, Macmillan supported more than 96,000 people from across the UK and identified around £62 million in unclaimed benefits and grants.

Sean Conroy, Macmillan welfare rights and energy team service manager said: "Four out of five people living with cancer are, on average, £570 a month worse off because of their diagnosis.

"From our engagement with people living with cancer through a range of services, we know just how severe the impact of cancer can be. Looking ahead, Macmillan aims to ensure no one is unduly financially disadvantaged by a cancer diagnosis, but we cannot solve this problem alone.

"The government also has a unique role to play in ensuring people with cancer can access the financial support they need. We were delighted to welcome Esther McVey and Philip Davies to highlight our work and the growing need for this sort of support."

In 2017 the support line services answered 156,236 calls and 5,961 emails.

Since November last year they have also been contacted through 366 webchats.

Ms McVey and Mr Davies also visited Carers’ Resource which supports about 16,000 unpaid carers in the Bradford district, Harrogate and Skipton areas.

They met the charity’s leaders and staff before sitting down to talk with carers Shain Wells, 48, of Menston, Helen Tawn, 51, of East Morton, and Arshad Majid, 52, of Wyke.

The Work and Pensions Secretary was in Shipley today to meet unpaid carers, who told her how they have struggled to juggle their caring role and a job.

Esther McVey and Shipley MP Philip Davies visited charity Carers’ Resource, which supports about 16,000 unpaid carers in the Bradford district, Harrogate and Skipton areas.

They met the charity’s leaders and staff before sitting down to talk with carers Shain Wells, 48, of Menston, Helen Tawn, 51, of East Morton, and Arshad Majid, 52, of Wyke.

Carers’ Resource chief executive Chris Whiley was at the meeting to support the carers and represent others who were not able to attend due to work or caring commitments.

She asked Ms McVey whether the Government would consider a carer-aware kitemark or charter for employers, and said her charity would work in partnership with other carer organisations to support officials to make this happen.

Ms Whiley said: "A kitemark would ensure working carers know where they stand if they need to take time off for caring or find themselves in emergency situations with their loved one.

"It also means they would be confident to reveal to their employer that they are a carer.

“Some of our carers have good experiences with their employers but others have a really tough time and either cannot work at all because of their caring role, or find themselves in HR meetings because of their circumstances.

"We want the Government to lead from the front by setting out national guidelines to ensure all carers are treated fairly.”

The Cellar Trust was another stop for the politicians.

The charity, based in Farfield Road, Shipley, supports people with mental health problems, across the Bradford district to move forward in their recovery and live independent, fulfilling lives.