Charities project launched to provide help for residents

Consett Churches and Neighbourhood Action (CCANA), is launching a one-stop shop in Christ Church hall, Consett, on January 30.

The long-awaited scheme aims to provide residents across Derwentside with access to public services and voluntary groups once a month.

Ann Sinclair, group chairman, said: "There has been a call to have a facility like this in Consett for some time.

"The idea is, that once a month, all of these organisations are in one place. People can come in, talk to experts and access services."

Ten groups have already signed up, including Age Concern, Victim Support, Derwentside Domestic Violence Forum, housing project Shaid and the Citizen's Advice Bureau.

Four religious groups are involved in the scheme - Christ Church, St Patrick's RC Church, the Salvation Army and Consett Methodist Church.

The scheme was set up in October last year by the Churches' Regional Commission, based at Ushaw College, near Durham, as part of itsFaith in the Community programme.

It has already held a series of social events, aimed at bringing various elements of the Consett community together.

Mrs Sinclair and her husband, Peter, vicar of Christ Church, hope to expand this with a monthly disco for people with learning difficulties. The couple ran a similar scheme when they worked on the Woodhouse Close Estate in Bishop Auckland.

They are former Salvation Army officers, which Mrs Sinclair said has been a big help in getting the project off the ground.

"We were in the Salvation Army for more than 20 years," she said.

"Having an ecumenical background has been very useful in this case."

The group is already looking at applying for funding for a community worker to expand the scheme.

"We are not a big group," she said. "Where we see a local need, we are trying to fill it. We are just trying to do what we can."

Anyone interested in joining CCANA or groups wanting to sign up for the one-stop shop are asked to call Mrs Sinclair on (01207) 502235.