A PETERSFIELD charity that offers vital help to young families and single parents struggling to cope with young children is appealing for help to beat a funding deadline.

If Home-Start Butser of Winton House in the High Street can raise £3,000 by January 31, it will gain £10,000 from a charitable trust.

The Four Acre Trust from Hereford "supports charities that give individuals - mainly children and young people - help in making the most of their lives.”

It has promised £10,000 to Home Start Butser if the Petersfield charity can raise £10,000 itself by the end of the month -- so far £7,000 has been raised.

Home Start manager Nicola Winter said: “The money could dramatically change children’s lives for the better.

“But the trust will only match donations of £500 or above, so we are hoping some very generous and kind people and businesses will be able to help.”

If the plea for help is successful and and the trust matches the £10,000 as promised, the total of £20,000 will train more Home Start volunteers.

Nicola said: “They change children’s lives by giving them the chance to grow up with hope rather than sadness, smiles rather than tears, and by providing parents the support they yearn for.”

And after last year’s closure of the children’s centre in Love Lane, the number of families needing help will only increase, believes Nicola.

She said: ““By our year end this April I expect we will have helped more than our yearly average of 80 families, so the money from the trust is desperately needed.

"So far since last April we have supported 70 families, and we are determined to help more if needed.

“We see many local families suffering, particularly when alone with the effects of family bereavement, relationship breakdown, illness, loneliness, and depression.

“These crises can destroy lives and have a damaging impact on children and parents for many years.”

It costs £1,000 a year to support a family, and if the target is met 20 more families can be helped by Home Start, who support parents and children from Greatham to Rowlands Castle and out to East Meon.

For more information visit the website www.homestart-butser.org.uk, or call 01730 233 755.