SIR — At Children's Hospice South West we help and support children and their families who are living with life-limiting conditions.

We are the only organisation in the South West to provide vital hospice care to these families and are here for families day and night throughout the year.

There are over 1,000 children who could benefit from our care, yet we are only able to provide care for up to 400 families.

Of these, some come to us for palliative care, some for emergency care and many for planned respite and a rare opportunity for a break.

The care we offer is free to families, so with little Government funding, we rely on the generosity of our supporters to provide for our needs.

The Children's Hospice Friends Group has been busy raising money for us in Minehead for some 20 years and there are many other individuals and groups in the area who support us generously.

The friends' group does need some new members now. The demands are not onerous, no special skills are required and time given may be flexible.

Would you like to know more? Please come and see us at the Methodist Church, Minehead, on Wednesday February 15 from 10am to noon.

Mary Fox,

Mallard Road,

Minehead.