A new family support group is today celebrating a cash windfall of more than £62,000 - just two months after it was set up.

Home-Start Maldon District has been handed a £62,469 grant by the National Charities Lottery Board.

The voluntary group provides help and advice for families at home - with at least one child under five - who need support during ill health, worry or loneliness.

Organiser Diana Fraser said she was absolutely delighted with the award which follows an application to lottery chiefs just before the group was started.

"We have not decided exactly what we will do with the money but it will certainly change our scheme," she explained.

"We might be able to expand. The Maldon district is a large area to cover and the scheme could well benefit from expanding.

"We will be able to buy more office equipment and pay for a full-time organiser too," she added.

Home-Start, based at St Cedd's House, in Princes Road, Maldon, is still looking for volunteers to join a ten-week training course which starts next month.

Volunteers with parenting experience will be matched with one or more families in the district and will offer support during difficult times.

The cash award is spread over three years. It comes from a total pot of £302,857 which has been awarded to 13 groups in Essex to help them make a lasting difference to their communities.

Also benefiting from the charity cash was the St Vincent De Paul Conception Conference in Chelmsford.

This project, which helps people on low incomes in the town was awarded £21,000. The cash will be used to improve the living conditions of families by providing essential household equipment and to pay for basic training courses.

Charities board regional awards committee has now given £16,623,729 to Essex, Thurrock and Southend since 1995.

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