ONE of the North-East's biggest charities has rebranded and changed its name.

Developing Initiatives Supporting Communities (DISC), which employs almost 1,000 staff and helps more than 20,000 people each year, will now be known as Humankind.

The charity, which is based in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, delivers a mix of services to help people with areas of their lives such as housing, education, employment, training, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, young people and families, and clinical support.

As a specialist agency, it focuses on helping those who "have fallen through the net of statutory provision and who many agencies struggle to help".

And after bosses completed a strategic review, the charity has re-branded itself after merging with a healthcare organisation.

The charity's chief executive officer, Paul Townsley, said the organisation, which has helped people improve their lives since 1984, is positioning itself for the future.

“We need to be more visible so that we can reach more of the people we represent," he said. “The process that we’ve been through over the past two or three years has shown us what matters most to staff, to commissioners and to service users.

"We’re all about people – that’s the essence of it – the equality and potential of people and our commitment to treating everyone that way.

"Making sure all the people we work with access fair chances.

“The services we deliver, and the way we work has evolved. The thing that runs through all of it is this belief in equality – that we all deserve a chance to achieve everything we can in life.

"Boil it down and we’re people working with people – no prejudice, no judgement, just ways to help. That’s what the new name reflects.”

The charity officially changed its name yesterday with a new website being launched and services and offices being re-badged to reflect its new identity.

A fundraising auction of work donated by artists will also be hosted by the branding agency, Sheffield-based Peter & Paul.

Lee Davies, creative director at Peter & Paul, said: “We want to give something back to the charity we’ve really got to know well over the last couple of years.

“Humankind does amazing work that changes lives, and we really believe in them. We wanted to do something to raise funds but also to celebrate a project and a client that we’re really proud of.”

The charity has won several awards including Investors in People, Positive About disabled People and Equality North-East.

It was also rated the top grade of Outstanding by Ofsted for its education services when it was last inspected in 2014.

To find out more visit humankindcharity.org.uk, email info@humankindcharity.org.uk or call 01325-731160.

You can also find the chairty on Facebook and twitter by searching for @humankindcharity