Lottery Block Puts Charity In Peril

A unique Worcester charity, set up to help parents cope with the tragedy of losing an adult son or daughter, faces closure next month after a bid to renew its lottery funding was turned down. 

PEAL (Parents Experiencing Adult Loss) support group, based in The Trinity, has helped 235 county families come to terms with the stress and trauma caused by the death of an adult child since it was set up in 1999.

PEAL was awarded £133,000 by the National Lottery Community Fund in 2002 over three years but now the money has run out and a fresh application for more funds has been denied.

To make matters worse the charity has been hanging on for six months for a decision by lottery chiefs in which time it been forced to dip into its reserves to keep services running.

Robbie Porter, chair of PEAL's trustees, said they were grateful for the help they had received in the past from the lottery. 

"But we are disappointed that they left it so late in the day before deciding they were pulling the plug," he said. If we can't attract substantial funding we might have to close." 

PEAL offers a unique countywide service built around one to one support and counselling together with self-support groups for parents and siblings over 16 years. 

Angela Gerrard, PEAL's support services manager, said it also provides vital training to a wide range of professionals including funeral directors, police and coroner's officers. 

PEAL needs £2,500 a month to stay open, funding which is largely spent on renting rooms to counsel and support the 87 families currently on its books. 

Anyone who wants to help can send donations to PEAL at St Swithuns Institute, The Trinity, Worcester, WR1 2PN and/or attend a public meeting there on Wednesday, August 31 at 7.30pm.