A CHARITY which supports unpaid carers across the district has paid tribute to its volunteers.

Carers' Resource says its team of around 140 volunteer supporters plays a "vital" role in the organisation – which covers Bradford and Craven, plus the Harrogate and Selby areas.

The charity is staging several social events as a 'thank you', to coincide with National Volunteers' Week.

Heidi Watson, chief executive officer at Carers’ Resource, says: "We are so grateful to our volunteers for the vital role they play in helping us support thousands of unpaid carers.

"A big 'thank you' goes to them all from myself and everyone at Carers’ Resource for helping make a difference to the lives of carers and the people they care for."

Amongst the volunteers is Wendy Morfill, who helps run two monthly groups in the Bradford district for parent carers of children with special educational needs.

Wendy, who has been a volunteer with the charity for nearly three years, says: "I am a parent carer myself – I have three autistic children. It can be quite lonely and isolating.

"One of the things I love about my role is that I can go into these groups and am not shocked by anything that is said. We support one another and give advice.

"For me it is important that parents realise they are not alone.

"I know what it’s like to be in their situations, which is why I wanted to run these groups and support parent carers.

"I enjoy the sense that I have managed to help somebody and make them smile.

"They feel that they have been heard and listened to."

Wendy describes her experience of volunteering with Carers' Resource as "nothing but positive".

She adds: "All the staff are lovely when I come into the office. It’s a great organisation to volunteer for."

Lucy Cartwright, parent carer development and locality worker at Carers’ Resource, says: "Wendy has been such a valuable source of support for the carers – she has used her personal experience and knowledge to empathise and reach out to others.

"Her hard work has meant we have been able to keep groups running that otherwise would not be there and I would personally like to thank Wendy for her ongoing commitment to creating support for other parent carers."

Anyone interested in volunteering with Carers’ Resource should visit carersresource.org/get-involved/volunteer-for-us for further information about the roles available.