FOUNDERS of the Trussell Trust Paddy and Carol Henderson have moved into new roles after ten years of running the Salisbury based charity.

The couple has seen the charity grow into a flourishing organisation which has helped many thousands of deprived people living in south Wiltshire and Bulgaria.

Former chief executive of Salisbury District Hospital, Chris Mould, has taken over as director of the charity while Paddy and Carol will oversee some of the trust's projects.

"We were very aware of the need to bring in talented new people and we want to roll up our sleeves and return to project work which is where our strengths lie," said Mr Henderson.

"If we had known ten years ago what the Trussell Trust would have become I doubt that we would have had the courage to do it.

"But thanks to our many wonderful volunteers and helpers it has been possible."

The Food Bank, which provides emergency food parcels for people in times of crisis, was set up after Paddy heard about a family in Salisbury who could not afford to eat.

There are now Food Banks from Bude in Cornwall to Inverness in Scotland and thousands of cans and packets are collected and distributed every week.

One of the Trust's longest running projects is the Lipnitza Orphanage in Bulgaria which houses children from the country's desperately poor Roma communities.

The Christian charity has just completed work on Joshua House which provides training for the teenagers once they leave the orphanage to ensure they don't end up back on the streets.

They are also helping Roma people to become self sufficient by providing goats and the means to grow food in community gardens. "I have always believed that these very targeted projects make a huge difference," said Paddy.

"We took a brave decision not to become a national charity but to focus on helping individual people with sustainable projects."

The Trust also runs the Refine clothing store in Winchester Street, Salisbury, and a café and shop in its headquarters at St Michael's Church in Bemerton Heath.

This has given many people the chance to develop new skills by volunteering and give something back to the charity.

"We have people living on benefit who give us money every month and that is very humbling," said Paddy.

"The Trust is not about us - it's about people coming together to make a difference. The charity's new director, Chris Mould, added: "I am very excited to be working for this energetic charity and expanding our projects."