A NORTH East family’s charitable trust which has supported local, national and international initiatives for 25 years has appointed a chief executive.

Keith Danby will spearhead the work of the Durham-based Vardy Foundation and entrepreneur Sir Peter Vardy’s new Jigsaw Foundation.

Danby said: “I could not have imagined such an exciting new challenge when deciding to retire from my role at Biblica.

“The Government acknowledges that faith-based organisations deliver these kind of community services very well and are good value for money.

“It’s also about helping the Church get back to its original mandate of helping those in poverty, the hungry and the homeless.”

The Vardy Foundation sponsored the development of four highly-successful schools in Northern England under the Emmanuel Schools Foundation.

It has also donated millions of pounds to worthy causes including the Mercy Ships, a school in Colombia, a hydro-electric power plant in Zambia, a hospital in India and Bible translation around the world, as well as many locally-based appeals.

The Jigsaw Foundation will run its own projects as well as work alongside existing community-based initiatives, local authorities and faith-based social care agencies.