MEMBERS of a project are celebrating after receiving a huge grant, which will enable them to keep going for the next three years.

Without the £127,815 grant from the Community Fund, Home-Start Teesside was facing financial difficulties and possible redundancies.

The money will be used to help the organisation, which has been on Teesside for the past 20 years, in its work with families in the area.

They offer hope and friendship to families with children under the age of five and now hope to expand their work throughout the area.

Isobel Stesaniuk, the project organiser, said: "We are absolutely delighted with the grant we have received. It will come in very useful.

"We were having difficulties with funding and this secures the project on Teesside for another three years. It is a great boost to us as we were facing staff redundancy."

The majority of families the group help find it difficult to cope with the stresses and strains associated with family life, and quite often find this can lead to the breakdown of their family unit.

Ms Stesaniuk said: "Many families are coping with impossible pressures due to a variety of reasons including divorce, single parent, isolation and illness, and there is not always somebody around to help.

"Young families may also need a role model to offer parenting skills, or mothers may need extra help when faced with post-natal depression."

Volunteers at the group spend time working with families in their homes on a regular basis, or run Family Support Groups in local communities.

They are often parents themselves who use their experiences to help others, and are often able to spend time with the family until they are over their crisis. This can either be long or short term depending on the situation.

The group's next preparation course for volunteers begins in May for adults aged over 18, with experience of working with children.

Anyone who can help is asked to ring (01642) 501811.