A SMALL charity is celebrating after receiving a £110,000 government grant to extend the support of unpaid carers.

Staff and volunteers at Thirsk, Sowerby and District Community Care Assocation (CCA) said they had been astounded to overcome competition from 232 groups, including national charities, for the Cabinet Office funding to be among the seven selected projects.

The charity, which works to improve health, reduce isolation and loneliness, and promote volunteering in Hambleton and Richmondshire, will use the funding to employ four full-time volunteer champions across North Yorkshire to identify and recruit 150 volunteers to develop respite sitting services for carers and promote the service to attract 250 carers.

It is aiming to attract 50 clients and 30 volunteers in Hambleton district and 25 extra clients and 15 volunteers in Richmondshire.

The focus of the project, which launched this week, will be to support carers aged over 50 years, and those living in rural areas.

The charity will run the scheme in partnership with 11 other groups, including Stokesley and District Community Care Association, Northallerton and District Voluntary Service Association, Herriot Hospice Homecare and St John’s Community Centre, in Catterick Garrison.

CCA chief officer Ellen Cross said the sitting scheme, which the charity has been running for 26 years and is funded by North Yorkshire County Council and clinical commissioning groups, aims to reduce the incidence of carer breakdown by providing a service which enables carers to have a break from their regular caring responsibility.

She said the growing number of carers in the area, which has a rapidly rising elderly population, would be given vital support, meaning more people could be cared for in the community rather than hospitals.

She said: "It is quite difficult for carers to identify themselves as such as they see what they do as their duty.

"The investment recognises the impact volunteers, including carers supporting each other, can make on carers feeling supported in their caring role - whether by allowing them to take a break from caring; sharing their experiences of caring; or receiving practical and emotional support."

Mrs Cross said the grant and recognition from the government would also help the charity to attract funding from other organisations in the future.

For details about the service, call 01845-523115 or email ellen@tscca.org.uk