A PROJECT in which North-East students help drug addicts recover from their problems through the power of football will expand.

The Sports Universities North East England (Sunee) programme has been running for two years.

After winning extra funding from the Northern Rock Foundation and The Football Foundation, it is looking to expand its work using sports training to aid drug rehabilitation

Project co-ordinator Neil Hurren, who is based at Durham University, said: "The universities are keen help their communities, and schemes such as this one help to form links between the universities and the local community."

Students from the universities of Newcastle, Durham, Nor-thumbria, Sunderland and Teesside have given up their time to volunteer to teach football skills. The sessions also allow them to gain teaching and sports qualifications.

The programme aims to use football coaching as a way of improving the drug treatments of users in the region.

It is hoped that, by offering a different environment, away from drugs, users' rehabilitation can be made easier.

The idea of having access to regular physical activity is also thought to help those involved to feel healthier and better about themselves.

There is also an opportunity for them to work towards sports qualifications when they have completed their training.

Mr Hurren said: "The scheme has been very successful so far, and there has been a really positive relationship between the students and people involved.

"The former drug users seem to have benefited greatly. Being part of a team and having regular exercise seems to be really helping them with their rehabilitation."

The Northern Rock Foundation is providing funding of £220,000 over the next three years and The Football Foundation is funding £250,000 during the next four years, to enable to project to grow.

Mr Hurren said: "The funding is really useful as it guarantees we will have funds over the next few years, so we can continue to run into the future. The number of people taking part keeps growing and the extra money means we can expand the programme and to cater for everyone who wants to take part."

Football training is given over an eight-week period, with participants ending their training by taking part in a local tournament in their area, and then each team across the North-East competes in the final tournament.

During the latest tournament, 12 teams of recovering addicts from across the region took part.