Member Article

Durham Social Resource Centre officially opens

The Durham Social Resource Centre (SRC) was officially opened on Friday, June 29 by Joyce Barraclough – the group’s recently retired chief executive.

The non-profit company which helps some of CountyDurham’s most vulnerable people opened its new training facilities.

The high quality social care centre has recently undergone a £150,000 expansion which has allowed for the addition of 120 people to its team.

The SRC opened its current base in Ferryhill in 2008 but saw a subsequent surge in business which meant it quickly grew to full capacity.

The group, which works alongside local councils to provide vital homecare support for the community, then received vital funds for a new extension from the Government’s Social Enterprise Investment Fund.

The £150,000 investment has enabled it to double the size of its base, with the addition of an extra 2,000 sq ft – giving it the capacity to significantly increase the volume of home care services it supplies to its partners, including Durham County Council.

Chief executive John Davison said: “The extension will provide much-needed space and options for future development.

“It is great to now be able to provide better training facilities for home care staff and we would like to thank the architects and everyone else involved in making this possible.”

Joyce Barraclough, who cut the ribbon to the new facilities, said: “It was a privilege to have officially opened the centre and I am very proud to have been given this opportunity.

“This is a fantastic facility for everyone involved and demonstrates the commitment the centre has to training its staff to the highest possible level.”

Andy Clements, Chairman of Trustees at Durham SRC, added: “Everyone who has been involved in this project, without exception, has wanted it to succeed, from Durham County Council to the builders and architects.”

The SRC lists Durham County Council, Darlington Borough Council and Durham & Darlington PCT among its partners and since its recent expansion, has taken on an additional 120 home care workers to support Durham County Council’s home care contracts.

The organisation also offers a health appointment car scheme, which helps people without easy access to their own or public transport to attend doctor or hospital appointments.

For more information on the company visit: [www.durhamsrc.co.uk](http://www.durhamsrc.co.uk/? rel=? target=)

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Harvey and Hugo .