A PROJECT to bring together a range of charities under one roof is to be launched this month.

Consett Churches and Neighbourhood Action (CCANA) is launching a one-stop shop in Christ Church hall, Consett, on January 30.

The scheme aims to provide residents from across Derwentside with easy access to public services and voluntary groups once a month.

Group chairman Ann Sinclair said: "There has been a call to have a facility like this in Consett for some time. The idea is, that once a month, all of these organisations are in one place. People can come in, talk to experts and access services."

Ten groups have already signed up, including Age Concern, Victim Support, Derwentside Domestic Violence Forum, housing project Shaid and the Citizens' Advice Bureau.

Four religious groups are involved in the scheme - Christ Church, St Patrick's RC Church, the Salvation Army and Consett Methodist Church.

The scheme was set up in October 2001 by the Church's regional commission, based at Ushaw College, near Durham, as part of the Faith in the Community programme.

It has already held a series of social events, aimed at bringing various elements of the Consett community together.

Mrs Sinclair and her husband, Peter, vicar of Christ Church, hope to expand this with a monthly disco for people with learning difficulties. The couple ran a similar scheme when they worked on the Woodhouse Close Estate in Bishop Auckland.

They are former Salvation Army officers, which Mrs Sinclair said has being a big help in getting the project off the ground. "We were in the SA for more than 20 years," she said. "Having an ecumenical background has been very useful in this case."

The group is already looking at applying for funding for a community worker to expand the scheme.

Anyone interested in joining CCANA or groups wanting to sign up for the one-stop shop should contact Mrs Sinclair on (01207) 502235