A PRODUCTION team has been recruited to a popular magazine thanks to a partnership's £175,000 contribution.

Two trainees and a production manager are now helping to publish Eastwise, the east end of Sunderland and Hendon's community magazine.

Founded in 1996, it is delivered free on a bi-monthly basis to 4,500 households and has become well established, with a strong network of contributors.

Through a programme of ongoing training, the new recruits will broaden their skills and develop their competency in writing, reporting and interviewing to further enhance the magazine's quality.

The project is one of several being supported by the Back on the Map partnership, which has received £54m from the Government's New Deal for Communities Fund.

As well as creating employment, the funding provided by the partnership will pay for the publication of Eastwise for the next two years.

Hazel Clark, vice-chairwoman of the Back on the Map partnership, said: "Back on the Map was delighted to fund this project.

"It has provided employment to three local people and is the ideal channel for supporting one of the partnership's main aims, which is to generate as much community involvement as possible."