A COMMUNITY centre in Ferryhill has landed more than £100,000 to boost use of the facility by all generations in the town.

The Ladder Centre, in Ferryhill, has been awarded grants to take on two members of staff to attract youngsters and adults.

A £75,000 grant from the Big Lottery's community fund is aimed at boosting the services provided for young members of the community.

The cash will pay for the three-year appointment of Jill Brown, a former director of the centre, as children and young people's co-ordinator, and associated costs of activities she runs.

And the Tudor Trust has donated £50,000 to the centre to employ June Kneafsey as the development worker for the next two years.

They will launch groups, activities and courses, and strengthen existing ones with activities such as adventure outings, complimentary therapy, computer courses and advice sessions.

Volunteer and secretary of the centre, Veronica Birchall, said: "External funding means life for the centre.

"We rely on support and grants to keep going and move forward.

"To receive large grants for long-term appointments is wonderful, it gives us breathing space to concentrate on developments rather than having to start applying for more grants halfway through a placement.

"June and Jill are working really hard and already making a difference. Provision for young people was already a strength but now the centre can build on that and develop facilities and resources for all generations.

"Jill is a prime example of what we do. She was a volunteer, then put herself through training and it is wonderful to find a local member of the community was best for the job."

The two posts replace a former member of staff, Sandy Denney, which has enabled the centre to almost double its opening hours.

The Tudor Trust, a charitable organisation founded by developer George Wimpey, has been a key supporter of the centre since the formation of a residents group in 1997, and the opening of the centre by Tony Blair in 2004.

Since then, the centre, on Coniston Road, has helped turn around the fortunes of The Lakes estate and the wider community.