An anonymous good Samaritan has stepped in with a £40,000 donation to keep a family support charity afloat.

Home-Start Sutton, which has supported struggling parents and their families since 1984, was left in financial difficulty after Sutton Council removed its funding last year.

But the charity, based in Stanley Road, Carshalton, was handed a lifeline when the anonymous benefactor made the donation last month.

Judith Armstrong, manager of Home-Start Sutton, said: "I was so surprised when I heard I had to ask for it to be repeated, I didn’t believe it .

"This is the only way we can thank the donor as we have no idea who they are or where they come from.

"So, to that kind and generous person, thank you - you have made an amazing difference."

Home-Start Sutton has supported over 3,000 families and 7,000 children since it started but it needs to find £65,000 every year to run the service. The charity survived through funding from a contract it had with the council but a change in council policy means that contract ended.

The donation means the charity is able to continue to work to secure its long-term future.
Ms Armstrong added: "Our volunteers visit families at home, giving them privacy and keeping their problems confidential. 

"They tailor make their practical and emotional help to each family’s needs. 

"But though they give their time for free, we do have small administrative costs - training them thoroughly, providing an office so we can take referrals from GPs, midwives, health visitors, social workers or from families themselves; supporting the volunteers, paying their travel expenses and making sure they have disclosure and barring service checks."

The charity is ,applying to trusts and foundations for longer-term funding as well as companies and other funders. If anyone can help with short term or long term donations, connections, or with fund-raising, please call 020 86476501 or text 'Text SSHS14' with the amount to 70070.