A WEEK after more than 1,000 North-East workers were told their jobs were being axed, The Northern Echo is launching a campaign to bring hope to shattered communities.

The region suffered a bitter double blow last Friday when Black & Decker Spennymoor announced that 950 jobs would be lost by 2003 and, on the same day, Weardale Steel in Wolsingham closed its doors leaving 70 employees out of work.

Only two months ago, Lafarge closed its Blue Circle cement works in Weardale with the loss of 147 jobs and putting many more at risk.

And, even as last Friday's shock announcements were being made, union officials were preparing for crunch talks with electronics company LG Philips which could decide the fate of 1,000 workers in Durham City.

Today, The Northern Echo launches Working For A Future - a campaign calling for more aid to the region.

The campaign backs the County Durham Economic Strategy 2002-2007, developed by The County Durham Economic Partnership.

More than 50 organisations have already signed up to the strategy and all are committed to the enormous challenge that lies ahead.

Stewart Watkins, executive director of County Durham Development Company, said: "Achieving the continuing economic regeneration of the county won't be easy. In fact the strategy goes as far as saying that the enormity of the task facing the Partnership should not be underestimated.

"But it is a partnership and it's one that now includes The Northern Echo and that's vital if the campaign is to have a strong and consistent regional voice."

MPs, council leaders and other key members of the community have pledged to support the campaign.

Dr John Bridge, chairman of regional development agency One NorthEast, said last night: "The recent job losses experienced in County Durham have been devastating. The agency is pleased to add its support to The Northern Echo's jobs campaign."

MP for North-West Durham Hilary Armstrong said: "I am delighted that The Northern Echo has taken this initiative."

Standing up for victims of jobs crisis

The Northern Echo has joined forces with a range of organisations - including One NorthEast, County Durham Development Company, and Durham County Council - to launch a campaign of support for communities hard hit by the manufacturing crisis in the region.

Working For A Future aims to promote efforts to regenerate those communities, such as Spennymoor, which suffered the devastating news of 950 Black & Decker job losses last week, and Weardale, which has suffered major losses at the Lafarge Blue Circle plant and Weardale Steel.

Since the announcement, The Northern Echo has had talks with development leaders with a view to launching today's campaign.

The aims are:

To press for urgent infrastructure investment via central, regional and European sources in communities ravaged by job losses.

To encourage and promote new business initiatives, particularly the creation of small businesses, in areas hardest hit.

To support community initiatives aimed at improving the living and working environments of those areas.

The campaign will include a Job Search service, which offers people who have lost their jobs the chance to advertise their skills free of charge in The Northern Echo.

The form published on this page is also available on-line at www.thisisthenortheast. co.uk/working

Victims of job cuts can fill in the form, send it back to us, and we will publish their details.

Peter Barron, editor of The Northern Echo, said: "The Black & Decker announcement was devastating news, particularly for Spennymoor but also for the wider region.

"Coming on top of the Blue Circle closure in Weardale, plus the Weardale Steel job losses announced last week, it is becoming increasingly clear that communities in our region need widespread support.

"The Northern Echo wishes to play its part in trying to provide practical support through publicity for new businesses, community initiatives and the job-seekers themselves."

Read more about the Working for a future campaign here.