A new scheme to provide carers for children in Bradford is to be launched giving people the chance to learn new skills and earn a wage.

The project is encouraging all members of the community in Holme Wood to come forward.

The Springboard Project has already started recruiting for the year-long scheme which is particularly encouraging applications from the unemployed, lone parents, ethnic minorities, people with a disability or those who would usually have difficulty paying for training.

The new recruits will receive a basic salary which is low enough for them to continue to claim benefits but acts as an incentive to those who would normally not be able to consider further education.

The scheme - started by family centre and nursery the Edward's Rainbow Centre in Holme Wood - has been made possible with grants from European Social Funding, Neighbourhood Renewal and Sure Start BHT (Bierley, Holme Wood and Tyersal), which totalled £190,020 and can run the project for two years.

Because of the involvement of several non-profit or state nurseries in the area the project can train up to 20 people at a time, unlike previous training schemes run by the Edward's Rainbow Centre.

Springboard was set up and developed by Edward's Rainbow Centre manager Sonya Douglas and deputy manager Dorothy Hainsworth.

"We were struggling to find qualified nursery nurses and we found there was a lack of skills in the local community," Sonya said. "We decided to set something up that would attract those from the community while up-skilling them.

"In a year's time 50 per cent of those in training should be directly employed by the nurseries and the remainder will be supported in finding employment, which shouldn't be a problem as there is a national shortage of nursery workers."