A RIBBLE Valley charity has launched a ‘time bank’ scheme aimed at lending a helping hand to carers.

Cross Roads Care, based in Clitheroe, hopes the project will attract more volunteers to do odd jobs for people who look after someone else full-time.

In return for doing tasks such as walk-ing carers’ dogs, or doing their gard-ening or ironing, their hours would be ‘banked’ and another volunteer, or a carer, would do something for them in return.

Ann Roberts, a former nurse who is a trustee at the charity, in Salthill Road, said: “I gave up my job to look after my mum when she had a stroke. Cross Roads Care came to help me out and allowed my mum to stay at home until she was 90.

“In return for their kindness, I decided to give something back and this is a fan-tastic scheme to do it with.

“I hope people sign up because being a carer is such a hard job, and just having a few odd jobs being taken care of makes the world of difference.”

The charity, which helps people with a range of caring needs, has been running for more than 20 years.

Laura Chadwick, a member of community group Transition Town Clitheroe, said: “We are fully behind this scheme because it would make a lot of difference to people’s lives. People wait a lifetime for gardens and then they can’t tend them because they have to do other things, so it’s a great way to get those kinds of jobs done and dusted.”

Clitheroe resident Adam Johnson, said: “It sounds like a great idea, and I would not be surprised if lots of people start to sign up. Odd jobs always pile up, and they must do even more if you have to look after somebody else full time.”