A CHARITY which has been helping support families across West Somerset for over 20 years is facing a crisis unless funding can be found for the next financial year.Creating Learning Opportunities In WesterN Somerset (CLOWNS), is preparing a number of bids for funding - but money for the financial year from April 2017 is currently only a quarter of what it needs for its work with hundreds of families and children.

“It’s a constant battle to find new sources of funding but we are at a turning point,” said Nik Harwood, the charity’s interim manager.

“Last year, we used our reserves, around £70,000, to keep going - but they are wiped out now and at the moment the outlook is bleak.

“We have been operating for 20 years and are very proud of what we deliver, and we are working flat-out to try and be here for years to come,” he said.

The family support and play charity, based at Minehead Eye, has operated across West Somerset since 1995.

It helps families learn and develop together, tackling issues such as rural isolation and struggles on low incomes, helping children to be school-ready, and encouraging increased physical activity for parents and children.

Last year its six part-time staff – who all face redundancy – held:

* 288 Playbus sessions on its double decker bus involving 1,492 adults and 1,904 children.

* 65 Tumbling Toddlers sessions involving 507 adults and 758 children.

* 238 sessions of Outreach work with 23 adults and 41 children.

* Toy Library sessions with attendances of 150 families and 49 groups.

* Eight family activity days for 174 adults and 308 children.

“We are working with some of the most vulnerable families in West Somerset, supporting every aspect of family life from fuel poverty and low level mental health issues, to family break-up,” said Mr Harwood.

Full story in the Free Press (December 9)