A CHARITY which is facing closure has made a passionate last-minute appeal for help so it can continue its vital work.

For almost 30 years Home-Start North East Worcestershire has given support to families across Redditch and Bromsgrove who are struggling to cope.

However, it will close unless it finds a whopping £70,000 by the end of the month.

Volunteers provide more than 350 families with non-judgemental, practical and emotional support and help build confidence and the ability to cope in sometimes difficult life-changing situations.

The group supports parents and children who are in situations as diverse as isolation, depression, bereavement, debt, housing issues, domestic abuse, and alcohol and substance abuse.

Karen Jones, manager of the charity said if they can't find the cash the group will be forced to closed.

She urgently appealed for people to donate anything they can, no matter how small.

"We need people's help to continue," she said.

"One-off donations would be welcome, but regular monthly donations, small or large, would give us a solid base and make it easier to obtain matching funding."

The charity was funded by Worcestershire County Council, Redditch Borough Council, and Bromsgrove District Council but that came to an end in November last year.

In addition, the Big Lottery, which has made a substantial contribution over a three-year period, stops its funding on August 31.

Ms Jones added: "We are very worried about the impact of closure on the local community.

"As an independent, non- judgemental organisation, we can help in ways that the statutory authorities cannot, and working with volunteers means that our services are extremely cost effective."

She said that the charity is needed now more than ever as referrals are rising due to cuts and changes in other services across the region.

Redditch MP Karen Lumley recently visited the charity and has written to the chief executive at Worcestershire County Council to highlight the issue and asked for help.

She said: “I am told that it costs between £1,000 and £1,500 a year to support a family for one year through the charity, which is considerably less than the cost of support through Social Services and the local council.

“The charity aims to provide support to prevent issues, which if allowed to escalate, could prove to be a considerable cost to the local economy and a huge social issue for the families involved."

PEP&CO in Redditch recently raised £467 for the charity.

The store, which opened last summer, organised a small community group to suggest where the funds could be best used, with Home Start being the chosen local good cause.

Customers raised £467 through carrier bag purchases.

Furthermore, deputy manager Tracy Richards braved a sponsored wing walk on and to date raised more than £370.

Store manager, Helen Parker said: “We’d like to thank our customers for their generosity in helping towards a really worthy cause.”