A PROJECT which has been helping workers in Bradford for 27 years is being wound down 18 months after its funding was cut.

Bradford Occupational Health Project, based in Little Germany, closed its doors and lost its only member of staff as supporters marked Workers' Memorial Day, a day of remembrance for workers killed, injured or made unwell by their work.

The BOHP organisation, which advised workers on employment and work-related health issues, said it had exhausted its cash reserves 18 months after its funding had been stopped by Public Health, part of Bradford Council.

Staff member Carol Duerden, who is being made redundant after 27 years, said: "Obviously I'm sad about that but I am more sad about the loss of the service to the workers of Bradford."

She said the project had helped many non-unionised workers over the years, including those fighting for compensation at employment and other tribunals.

Staff had also advised workers with work-related health conditions.

She claimed that the increase in the number of self-employed workers and the growth in zero-hours contracts meant that some workers had less health and safety protection.

"Legislation that has been proven to reduce deaths and ill health at work is being undermined - this must be reversed."

Mrs Duerden said BOHP had been funded over the years by various organisations. Its most recent grant, £29,000, had come from the council's public health arm.

Although the organisation will be without a phone line and will not have computers, volunteers are hoping to continue its work in some capacity.

Post will continue to be picked up from the Bradford Resource Centre, 17-21 Chapel Street, Bradford.

"The work of BOHP will continue albeit with massively reduced resources," said Mrs Duerden.

"The work of the project will no longer be hamstrung by meaningless 'performance measures'."

Andrew Mawson, chairman of the Bradford Area Occupational Health and Safety Forum, said: "I’m really, really disappointed to see that BOHP has lost its funding and is closing because they helped create the forum in the first place.

"We have worked closely over many years so it is really disappointing that the value that BOHP have provided to the city over these 27 years has not been recognised to the extent that funding has been continued."

Mike Quiggin, secretary of Bradford Trades Council, said: "The work (of BOHP) will continue - volunteers and activists will carry it on. We have got activists but no paid workers and no office."

No-one was available to comment from Public Health.