AFTER spending some of his own childhood in care, a Darlington man has established a service to support vulnerable care leavers.

An expansion of the Community Environmental Care Agency (CECA) will allow Aaron Jack and his team to offer support, befriending services and advice to anyone aged 18 to 45.

Chief executive Mr Jack said providing befriending services for young adults leaving the care system would form a particularly important part of the agency’s work going forward.

Mr Jack believes those who must leave care settings are often left vulnerable and risk becoming isolated.

He said: “Our befriending service is for anybody, not just for youngsters, but it has been inspired by my own experiences.

“I was in care twice during my school years and found it quite difficult – I now live in an area where a lot of youngsters have been placed after leaving the care system.

“When they get to 18 or 21, they’re kicked out and after leaving the care placements, people can become lonely and depression may kick in – they sometimes turn to drugs and alcohol.”

As well as its befriending service, a recent funding boost means CECA’s community support unit now operates a drop-in service offering advice on a range of issues including housing, benefits and health.

The team, which includes a number of trained staff and volunteers, also operate a small foodbank for anyone struggling to eat while continuing to run the organisation’s community clean unit, which sees volunteers undertake street cleaning duties and helps to tackle environmental problems in the town.

Mr Jack is now appealing for more volunteers to join the team.

Based at 198-200 Northgate, CECA, is open from 8am until 4pm from Monday to Friday, with services available on a drop-in basis.

For more information or to find out more about volunteering visit tceca.org.uk.