A charity which was founded in Ross-on-Wye is one of first to receive cash from The National Lottery Community Fund. Hope Support Services, which offers a support network for young people who have a family member diagnosed with a life changing illness, has been awarded more than £275,000 by the newly named The National Lottery Community Fund.

The community fund, the largest in the UK, recently changed its name from the Big Lottery Fund. Thanks to the money, raised by National Lottery players, Hope Support Services will continue to help young people across Herefordshire, aged 11 and over, who have been affected by a parent or carer’s illness.

The organisation was set up by Sue Trevethan, from Ross-on-Wye, ten years ago. When Sue was diagnosed with cancer, she found that there was a lack of support for her children who were aged 13, 16 and 19 at the time. She said: “There was plenty of support for children and young people who had experienced bereavement, but no service existed to help young people with an ill parent or carer. I decided that something had to be done for those who were experiencing the trauma and uncertainty of a family health crisis.”

Hope Support Services first began in a coffee shop, which soon expanded to a group of young people with experience of a poorly loved one, who wanted to mentor and support others in similar situations. One year later, it became a registered charity and began providing free training to health care professionals working with young people. Over 500 young people have received help from Hope Support Services over the past decade.See the full story in this week’s edition of the Ross Gazette, or subscribe to our online edition here