A VITAL helping hand is now being offered to families under stress in Felixstowe.Home-Start Suffolk Coastal has obtained funding to spread its service from the Woodbridge area to Felixstowe and the charity launched the scheme in Great Eastern Square yesterday.

A VITAL helping hand is now being offered to families under stress in Felixstowe.

Home-Start Suffolk Coastal has obtained funding to spread its service from the Woodbridge area to Felixstowe and the charity launched the scheme in Great Eastern Square yesterday.

The charity can help any families with children under five irrespective of their income. But it says that families in Felixstowe who could particularly benefit from its support include port workers, whose shift patterns can disrupt family life, and the teenage mothers.

The organisation aims to prevent families breaking down by giving support and practical help, and encouraging the parents to become more confident and able to face the challenges from bringing up children.

Caroline Hawksley, Suffolk Coastal organiser, said: ''We are launching Home-Start in Felixstowe after securing funding for the next two to three years from the county council and Barclays.

''The money is being spent on supporting families through volunteers and a part-time coordinator. We have funding from the Local Network Fund for a families group and this will help parents meet other parents and children.''

She added: ''We have 44 volunteers in the district and we are helping between 75 and 80 families a year which is well over 200 children. The volunteers go into their houses for a few hours each week and they can be there as a listener and a helper with the children, offering simple but comfortable support.''

Anyone who would like to train as a volunteer or needs support from Home-Start can call 01394 389402 for further information.