A report into the difficulties of recruiting and retaining volunteer charity workers is to be launched in East Durham tomorrow.

The report, titled Volunteers - Unpaid not Unprofessional follows a period of lengthy research by Barnardo's worker Sue Simpson, whose job it is to recruit volunteers in the Easington area.

Her research came about because of a lack of people volunteering to help in an area which particularly needs assistance.

Ms Simpson, a charity worker, wanted to find out why there was such a lack of volunteers and set about discovering the reasons for the shortfall.

She uncovered factors such as high levels of unemployment, levels of long-term sickness and the rural nature of the district were among the main reasons for the difficulties in recruiting volunteers.

She also explored means by which Barnardo's could recruit and retain volunteers generally.

Her report will be made public in the Banqueting Suite ofPeterlee's Shotton Hall tomorrow, between 10am and 3pm.

Different voluntary organisations will be putting on displays, and volunteers will be giving a presentation of their experiences.