A SERVICE which helps provide more than £12m worth of work in a North-East town has undergone a relaunch.

Darlington CVS has rebranded itself as eVOLution, which includes a new name, website and logo.

The new step in the development of the voluntary sector service will also give greater advice and supports to its clients.

Partners, clients and funders were invited to the launch event at its offices today.

It included an address on the new direction of the service by chairman of the board of trustees, Charles Johnson, and a description of the new website by its developer Matt Moore.

Councillor Johnson said: "This is the end of a journey and the start of a new journey.

"The end of the old journey was changing Darlington CVS, the organisation that existed in the past with a lot of trials, tribulations, trauma and challenges, eventually becoming a new vibrant up to date organisation called eVOLution."

Coun Johnson said when he took over the position his challenge was to make into a leading third sector organisation.

He added: "I believe we are very close to that, if not already there. With a bit more work we will be there."

A report last year by Durham University estimated the work of volunteers in Darlington to be worth more than £12m.

More than 7,200 people give up their time for more than 600 voluntary groups in the town, providing more than 1.1 million hours of work.

Karen Grundy, the new executive director of the organisation, said the change had been in the planning since 2006.

She said: "We have moved on dramatically in the last 12 to 18 months. The new branding has to reflect that vibrancy and the ambition of both us as an organisation and the third sector as a whole."

She said the majority of its clients had welcomed the changes sending messages of support.

She added: "They will see greater involvement in the future of Darlington. They will be part of the future of Darlington.

"They will see an organisation which has much more support and advice than ever before."

The new website includes information on courses, news, contacts and projects. For more information see www.evolutiondarlington.com.