A CENTRE which helps to make a real difference for families in Rossendale has made a fresh appeal for funding help.

Campaigners have managed to keep Bacup Family Centre on track, amid fears that it might close earlier this year.

Generous townsfolk ralied around after it was revealed, back in May, that the Hawthorn Road facility was facing a cash crisis.

Supporters have pledged to make monthly donations, to keep the work of the Pennine Road estate centre alive.

But centre workers are now looking for big business to get on board and secure the operation's long-term future.

Project manager Leila Allen said: "The generosity of people in Bacup has been great and we now have 22 volunters at the centre.

"Without them the centre would close. But we need to more people, and businesses, to come forward and offer assistance."

The centre hosts pre-school and after-school clubs, as well as a parents and toddlers group and support group for the parents and carers of chiildren with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Unfortunately a play group, which ran for 14 years, was lost as part of an internal reorganisation of the centre.

Leila estimates that currently the family centre, which is housed in two converted Greenvale Homes properties on the estate, has around £35,000 of its £72,000 budget in place for the next financial year.

She added: "We have some large firms in Lancashire and if one or two could pledge £3,000, or £5,000, then it would create some security for the families who come to the centre.

"There is nothing like this for people living locally and everyone who came up to us, when they heard that the centre was going to close, said that we would be badly missed."

The centre has struggled as many charitable and grant-giving trusts are keen to support targeted projects, or provide resources for equipment or buildings, but are reluctant to provide salary costs.

  • If anyone can assist the Bacup centre then they can contact Leila on 01706 875270.