VENITA PATTINSON - Community Award, sponsored by The Northern Echo: Venita Pattinson won her award for starting up a business which has had a dramatic impact on the lives of elderly people in one of the most rural areas of County Durham.

She started Applejack Home Care Ltd in 2001 and today it employs 34 staff from its base at the Dales Business Centre in Stanhope, Weardale.

Applejack's highly-trained staff look after the elderly people of the Dales, helping them to continue living in their homes by carrying out the kind of basic day-to-day tasks with which they might otherwise struggle.

Staff visit their clients' homes to help them dress and wash, as well as preparing meals.

Another crucial advantage of the service is that it offers the elderly people a friendly face and someone to chat to, which is important to help tackle the sense of isolation some of them may feel.

Applejack also offers expert care services to people who are suffering serious illness, or even dying.

Clients are referred to Applejack by social services workers in the dales and those working with the local primary care trust.

Venita, who is the managing director, said: "The work we do makes a difference to the lives of our clients and we are part of the community in the Dales.

"We have a very good reputation with our clients and with social services and the primary care trust."

She said that was underlined by a recent survey of the 51 companies carrying out similar work for social services and similar organisations in County Durham, which rated Applejack in the top five.

Of the award, which is sponsored by The Northern Echo, Venita said: "It was a total shock.

"I thought I was there to make the numbers up but gradually I realised that she was talking about me!"