A HOMELESSNESS charity is celebrating moving into its own premises for the first time as it marks 45 years of working in Durham.

Durham Action on Single Housing (Dash) has just moved into a newly refurbished pub in Gilesgate.

The former Last Orders pub, which closed in 2016, has reopened as Hudson House – named after John Hudson, one of the charity’s founders.

The charity, which was based in a rented unit on Dragonville Industrial Park, is using the ground floor as offices while the first floor has been refurbished and is a starter flat let at affordable rents for young people.

Peter Smith, from Homeless Link, was at the opening. He said: “As an organisation operating for 45 years helping some of the most vulnerable people in our society it is fantastic to be able to come along and see the progress they have made.

“This new building provides a great opportunity to demonstrate how charities can evolve and still develop in what are very uncertain times for all of us.

“They are continuing to make a difference over 45 years on from their creation and are putting themselves out there to develop services and be at the forefront of the safety net in Durham.”

The move to Gort Place is part of a new strategy to “future proof” the charity, which is also seeking to become a registered provider with the Homes and Communities Agency, which will allow it to access funding for future development.

Last year Dash received 542 referrals and provided accommodation support to 106 people.

The building was opened by Pat Hudson, Mr Hudson’s widow.

Mr Hudson, who died in 2012, was a founding member of Dash when it began as Durham Cyrenians in 1972.

Dash chair Madeleine Ashdown said: “He gave an enormous amount of his time to many organisations, especially to the NHS, who received the benefit of his special qualities.

“Above all, he always approached his many roles with great enthusiasm and joie-de-vivre, which was infectious.

“John was a valued and hard-working Board member of Dash until he sadly passed away in 2012. He is very much missed. We are delighted that his wife Pat has allowed us to honour his memory in this way.”

Dash bought the pub last year and initially had plans to convert it into flats for young people at risk of homelessness, but withdrew them following objections by neighbours.