A FAMILY support charity has suspended all trips and outings, blaming the impact of spending cuts.

Home-Start South Worcestershire, which provides support, help and friendship for families with young children, offers trips as part its programme of help.

Recently, the charity took 17 families to the Swan Theatre, in Worcester, to see Wake Up Sleeping Beauty.

However, the knock-on effect of council spending cuts means such trips could become a thing of the past.

Families have enjoyed a programme of trips and outings during 2013, including to the Sea Life Centre and the Cotswold Farm Park, but the board of trustees has been forced to suspend such activities unless more money can be raised.

Manager, Jess Bird, said: “It’s been great to be able to offer this to families.

“Life with under-fives can be tough for anybody and a few hours away from home with other parents and children gives families something extra alongside our weekly volunteer home-visiting service.

“Unfortunately, the outlook financially for many charities like ours is very different for the year ahead, as a result of local authority spending cuts. These cuts have had a real impact on our income already and we will have to reduce the service we provide to families in 2014, unless more money can be raised.

“The board of trustees have had to make the difficult decision to suspend our trips and outings programme until further funding can be secured.

“It is obviously necessary to prioritise our main work of recruiting and supporting our home-visiting volunteers when funds are limited, but we would be delighted to hear from any individuals or organisations who would like to help us with donations so we can plan more family fun in the year ahead.”

Home-Start is one of the leading family support charities with independently funded local schemes in more than 300 areas across the UK. It recruits and supports parent volunteers who offer weekly home visits to local families in the Wychavon district, helping them cope with what life throws at them, whether that is illness, disability, bereavement, relationship difficulties or many other issues.

For information about Home-Start, go to homestart sw.org.uk, call 01905 29377 or e-mail enquiries@home-st artsw.org.uk.