GIVING elderly people in residential care a greater say in how they run their lives is a passion for Helen Charlton.

Helen has been appointed manager of Westerleigh, a 55-bed residential home and day centre in Scott Street, Stanley.

She has spent her entire career in residential care and worked as a manager at homes in North Tyneside and North-umberland.

Since being in post Helen has been keen to introduce new activities for residents, with computer classes proving particularly popular.

"Many residents have children and grandchildren living abroad, so by learning how to use a computer they can keep in touch by e-mail," she said.

"There are some practical difficulties, such as poor eyesight and stiff finger joints, preventing people from spending the amount of time they would like at the computer.

"But we're overcoming these problems by being extremely flexible in our approach and offering very short tuition periods, as and when people want them.

"The computer classes are just one way we try to give residents more independence and a greater say in what happens in their lives."

It is a busy time for Helen, from Ellington, Northumberland, as she is in the final stages of an MBA course at Newcastle University.