THREE voluntary care schemes have been saved from the threat of closure after a cash injection.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council is pumping more than £62,000 into bridging a funding gap caused by the withdrawal of Government grants.

The schemes are:

* Adult Representational Advocacy Service - £6,275. The project, managed by the Citizens' Advice Bureau and part-financed by the Langbaurgh Primary Care NHS trust, aims to help users of social care and health services know their rights and to represent them in decision-making.

* Handyperson service - £26,250. It is managed by Age Concern and provides small repairs and maintenance in the homes of elderly or vulnerable people and those with community care needs.

* Carers Development Service - £33,000. It is a voluntary sector scheme overseen by the Redcar and Cleveland Voluntary Development Agency and managed by carers. It provides a network of support for hundreds of carers across the borough and ensures the views of carers are heard when commissioning plans are being prepared.

Council leader David Walsh said the rescue packages had come through the Labour Group's annual budget setting.

"We did not want to see these schemes die through lack of funding," he said.

"The work they do cannot be replicated by statutory agencies and they provided an object lesson in services being provided by the very people who needed those services - self-help at its very best."

The council's lead member for social services, Pat Harford said: "Labour values the work of the voluntary sector.

"These schemes were valuable and if they had to shut up shop as a result of other agencies withdrawing funding, they could not easily be replaced."