A CASH boost of £7,100 from the Lloyds Bank/TSB Foundation has ensured the future of the Open Door Family Support Group in Okehampton for another year.
The grant for the group, which runs a range of activities to support family development in the community, will go towards the project worker's salary and rent of its premises at Tenby House.
Open Door's centre offers a drop-in facility for parents and carers with young children.
Here they can socialise and enjoy a cup of coffee while their children play in a safe environment.
Family workshops also allow children to enjoy arts and crafts.
Other services which the group provides include a toy library, where families can hire educational and recreational toys at the cost of 25p per toy for a two-week period and summer holiday playschemes for 3-12-year-olds.
Open Door Family Support Group treasurer Jim Goodwin said the money was a lifeline to the group which had received no other grants this year despite over 30 applications for grant funding.
'This money means we can remain open for a further 12 months which will allow us time to look for further funding to go beyond October next year,' he said.
'What we really need is a voluntary worker who has some experience of looking for funding because it is a full-time job in itself.'
The Open Door Centre is currently open two days a week, but the group would ideally like to open an extra day a week, if the money was there.
Branch manager of Lloyds TSB in Okehampton Debbie Vinnicombe said the Lloyds TSB Foundation was committed to working with charities which met social and community needs such as the Open Door Family Support Group.
In 2001, the foundation has received £34.4 million to distribute to registered charities throughout the UK.
If anyone can help the Okehampton group in their quest for funding contact committee secretary Frances Rickwood on 01837 659533.