A LOCAL man who was forced to rethink his career following a back injury is now working for the very charity that helped him.

Six years after Shaw Trust helped Graham Barker into a new line of work, he is helping other people to change their lives at the charity's Stockton project.

The 43-year-old, who lives in Newton Aycliffe, used a Make a Difference open day to highlight the services of the charity.

He said: "I know what Shaw Trust can do for people, so I'm really enjoying helping to push this project forward. As development officer, I am looking to improve and expand what we're doing here, and our open day was a chance for people to see what we're up to and to get involved."

The three-acre site, in Bishopton Road, houses a Job Club and provides healthy living courses. But its main thrust is the Grangefield Gardening Project, where clients grow and sell plants and vegetables to visitors.

Profits are ploughed back into the scheme, which receives funding from the local Riverside Further Education College and Stockton Social Services, which refers clients to it.