A LOCAL charity has been contracted to continue to provide services for adult unpaid carers in the Bradford district for at least three more years.

Carers’ Resource supports 16,000 unpaid carers in the Bradford district, and the Harrogate and Skipton areas through one-to-one support, casework, information, support groups, employment and training advice, planning for emergencies, and maintaining wellbeing.

Chief executive Chris Whiley said: “We have been delivering support services for carers for several years and we are delighted that funders have continuing faith in our ability to deliver high-quality services.”

The charity will also run the district’s young carer services from April, enabling services to be offered to whole families. A carer is someone who, without payment, provides help and support to a friend, neighbour or relative who could not manage otherwise because of frailty, illness, addiction or disability.

Ms Whiley added: “It is exciting that we will soon be providing services to all carers across the district, no matter how old they are. Delivering both these contracts brings many opportunities for us and the people we support.”

Carers’ Resource plans to change some of its working practices when the new contracts come into force. Ms Whiley added: “We have been piloting a different way of working over the past few months that has involved enabling four workers to get to know local communities in greater detail.

“For example, one worker called Kay Nichols has been focussing on central Keighley. She has got to know her local area well and carers contacting the organisation from that area have been allocated solely to her. Her knowledge of the local area ensures that she can offer the best possible support and advice to carers, and local drop-ins mean that carers can see a friendly face on a regular basis.

“Kay is also better placed to reach the diverse communities across her geographical spread, and she is more knowledgeable about community groups and courses that are close to carers’ homes.”

Carers’ Resource will present its planned new ways of working to carers and professional partners at an event in the Ernest Saville Room at City Hall, Bradford, on Thursday, March 21, from 1.30 to 3.30pm. Anyone who is interested to know more and give their feedback is welcome to attend.

For more information or if you are a carer who wants to refer yourself to Carers’ Resource for a discussion about support or your wellbeing, call 01274 449660 or email bradford@carersresource.org.