A CHARITY which offers support to struggling parents and families in the Petersfield area has reached a significant milestone.

Glasses were raised and a birthday cake was cut in Churcher’s College last Wednesday to celebrate 20 years of Home-Start Butser.

Special guests at the annual general meeting included MP Damian Hinds and Viv Robson, the founding chairman of the charity which has supported 76 families and 155 children over the last year.

Current chairman Fiona Smart said: “I think it’s no mean feat for a charity of this size, so small and perfectly formed, to have lasted this length of time.

“Not just lasted, but growing and developing year on year and it’s a testament to everyone in this room.”

Demand for Home-Start’s services remains high while some of the families they support have “particularly complex needs.”

The charity has built up some reserve funds but is looking to generate more as it wants to expand its reach to people in the East Meon, Horndean and Rowlands Castle areas as these contain pockets of high deprivation.

Mrs Robson, who was presented with flowers at the end of the meeting, said she was humbled to see the “tiny local enterprise” that she started in 1998 blossom into a thriving organisation.

The group got off the ground thanks to a £128,000 lottery grant – one of the biggest received in Hampshire at the time – while the public launch took place at Queen Elizabeth Country Park.

She also joked that chocolate meringue fingers were served at the first annual meeting and their first office was in Merchistoun Hall, Horndean, before a move to Petersfield followed.

Viv also recalled interviewing the charity’s scheme manager, Nicola Winter, calling it one of the best things she did as a panelist.

She said: “It’s amazing to look back over the last 15 years and to see how Nicola and her crew have taken the scheme from that tiny little enterprise to what it is today.

“We’ve made our mark and more and more people understand what we do and are willing us to carry on.”

Mr Hinds called for the chocolate meringue fingers to make a return before handing out long service awards to seven volunteers.

“What you do is phenomenal,” he said before adding: “I’ve got to commend everybody in this enterprise.”

Further guests included the mayor of Petersfield, Hillary Ayer, who has made Home-Start Butser her chosen charity for the second time. She announced that a quilt, produced by friends and on display in Sew Creative, in Lavant Street, Petersfield, is up for grabs via a silent auction in aid of the charity.

People can bid by visiting Petersfield Town Council offices or e-mailing: [email protected]