A GROUP that provides young single parents and their children with essential life skills is in risk of closure. The Young Parents Support Group is the only one of its type in East Cambridgeshire. Single parents under the age of 25 and their children meet

A GROUP that provides young single parents and their children with essential life skills is in risk of closure.

The Young Parents' Support Group is the only one of its type in East Cambridgeshire.

Single parents under the age of 25 and their children meet every Tuesday between 10am and noon at the Ross Peers Sports Centre in Soham.

The men and women learn parenting skills and take part in various activities; previous examples include IT workshops, first aid training, learning relaxation techniques and cookery classes.

The group is organised by the Cambridge County Council Office of Children and Young People who work with Connexions.

Locality youth worker Louise Sarll runs the group.

She said: "Many single parents are isolated with no family support. This group gives them the opportunity to take time out and they learn social skills and develop confidence and self-esteem. The children also benefit as it helps them to develop and make friends.

"It's a fantastic and worthwhile group, it's my favourite part of my job and I really enjoy being with all of them."

The group has been going for approximately two years, and is funded externally with money coming from the Local Network Fund and various Government grants, but money is running out.

Ms Sarll said: "We're forever looking for funding through various different avenues and we've come into difficulty recently. If we don't secure funding by the end of June we may have to stop the group."

* Anyone who feels they can help with funding should contact Ms Sarll on 01353 724115.