Carers are the unsung heroes of our communities, looking after relatives or close friends, often under great duress, with no financial reward.

There are many of them and they keep our welfare state afloat - without their selfless actions looking after those who cannot look after themselves, the strain on our social services and healthcare systems would undoubtedly cause irreparable damage.

But while those who care for others would doubtless not even consider failing to look after their loved ones, it can take a terrible toll on the health and wellbeing of the carers themselves. They might have to carry out physically demanding tasks such as cleaning their loved one or helping them use the bathroom, while looking after someone with mental illness or dementia can present its own huge challenges as well.

So the fact that devoted carers are getting small grants from an initiative funded by Bradford Council in conjunction with the local NHS is good news.

While obviously not life-changing amounts, these grants enable carers to take a short break or even finance a new hobby or learning opportunity.

Such breaks from the routine of caring are worth far more than the money and allow carers to recharge their batteries, focus their energies on something else and, for a brief time, think of themselves rather than others.

In doing so they will return to their caring role with fresh energy and enthusiasm. It would be satisfying to see the Government put more money into schemes such as this to acknowledge the contribution they make.