A PROGRAMME designed to help homeless people in north Durham has received a prestigious national award.

The Life Skills programme, backed by Durham County Council and charity Single Homeless Action Initiative Derwentside (SHAID), has been awarded Investing in Children status.

The programme is designed to enable young people aged between 16 and 25 to successfully live in tenancies, either on their own, or with friends.

The council's family service team and SHAID are based at the St Andrew's Family Resource Centre in Stanley.

The agenda is set jointly by young people and staff. The homeless initiative has been expanded recently to improve support for young adults.

Durham County Council director of social services Peter Kemp presented the award. He said: "The programme and the centre fully deserve this honour for the excellent results they have achieved.