A COMMUNITY company which helps some of County Durham’s most vulnerable people has created 120 jobs and undergone a £150,000 expansion.

The Social Resource Centre (SRC) has doubled its Ferryhill head office to 4,000sq ft after a surge of business since 2008 meant it reached full capacity within four years of opening the premises.

The group, which works alongside councils to provide vital care support at community care homes, received funds for the extension from the Government’s Social Enterprise Investment Fund.

The extra 2,000sq ft has given it the capacity to significantly increase the volume of services it supplies to its local authorities and NHS trusts, including Durham County Council, Darlington Borough Council and Durham and Darlington Primary Care Trust.

An additional 120 staff, mainly part-time hands-on carers, have also been added to the company to support Durham County Council.

Staff at the not-for-profit company provide services including personal care and practical support for people with special needs and disabilities in their own homes.

The company has been a registered charity since 1994.

Company chief executive John Davison said: “The extension will provide muchneeded space and options for future development.

“It is great to now be able to provide better training facilities for home care staff and we would like to thank the architects and everyone else involved in making this possible.”

The organisation also offers a health appointment car scheme, which helps people without easy access to their own or public transport to attend doctor or hospital appointments.

The SRC will host an open day event on Friday, June 29, when Joyce Barraclough, the group’s recently retired chief executive, will cut the ribbons to the new extension.

The event, from 11am to 3pm, will give people who may be interested in the organisation’s work the chance to meet the team at its base at Chapter House on Dean and Chapter Industrial Estate, Ferryhill.