A GROUP of organisations providing social care in County Durham and Teesside is looking for new members.

The Tees Valley Social Care and Health Alliance is one of four such groups in the region.

It is made up of organisations that provide social care and health services in the Tees Valley and includes charities such as Cruse and Mind and care homes such as Eden Cottage, in Darlington.

Members of the alliance are more easily able to access national funding for staff training, as well as being able to share information and ideas with other care providers in the group.

The alliance, which is funded by organisations including Darlington Borough Council, also gives its opinion on local and regional decisions about the future of care provision in the area.

Maureen Horton, chairman of the alliance's independent sector provider group for Darlington, said: "The more members the alliance has, the more it can do to help businesses and groups in the area who are concerned with caring."

Any provider of social care and health services to people in the Tees Valley can join and membership is free.

For details, call (01642) 384997.