A SUICIDE prevention charity in the North-East has won £4,000 to spend on building materials.

The If U Care Share Foundation, in Chester le Street, County Durham, was been named as a regional winner in the Jewson Building Better Communities competition.

The organisation was founded by Shirley Smith in 2009 after her 19-year-old son Daniel O’Hare took his own life.

It provides support around the prevention of suicide to those affected by it, and to promote positive mental health in and around the region.

Dean Smith, foundation chairman, said: “We were honoured just to be invited to the Building Better Communities event, and were elated when it was announced we’d been awarded £4,000.

“This funding couldn’t have come at a better time as we’re in the process of relocating to bigger premises due to our ever expanding work.

“The funds will be used towards making our new working environment as suitable as possible for our work around prevention, intervention and support to those affected by suicide.

“Thank you to everyone involved, especially Jewson to who we are very grateful.”

The competition was launched in March and more than 1,800 community projects were nominated.