A NEW partnership has been launched to expand an award-winning housing group.

Newcastle-based Norcare, a North-east charity that has been helping some of the region’s most vulnerable people since 1984, has joined Fabrick Housing Group to add specialist expertise to the collaboration of companies.

Together, the group will be able to provide a wider range of supported housing services to communities and cover a wider geographical base, sharing resources and costs.

The move cements the group’s commitment to securing the future of providing for vulnerable people, despite government cuts.

Alison Thain, Chief Executive of Fabrick Housing Group, said: “Although Supporting People funding has been removed nationally and the government is slashing funding, our board continues to be committed to coming up with ways of enhancing service provision.

“Supporting people continues to be important to us and is central to the ambitions and aims of our organisation. We remain dedicated to continuing with our valued work to support vulnerable people and respond to and meet their needs.

“Norcare brings the perfect opportunity to do that, helping it grow its own business and cover a wider area.”

Middlesbrough-based Erimus Housing, which owns 10,500 properties and Tees Valley Housing, which owns 4,500 properties from North Tyneside to York, became partners to create Fabrick Housing Group in 2008.

The group structure meant they could share resources, skills and expertise including development, housing management and regeneration.

Now they will be joined by Norcare, which provides housing support and a range of other services for some of the most vulnerable groups of society.

The business, which covers County Durham to Northumberland, has been voted four times as one of the ‘Best Small Companies to Work For’ in the Sunday Times list.

Susan Bickerton, Chief Executive of Norcare, said: “We are thrilled to join such a well thought of organisation as Fabrick Housing Group. This is a really visionary and forward thinking step.”