A CALL is being made for a £50,000 lifeline to save a child welfare project which is threatened with homelessness.

The Barnardo's charity needs the money quickly if a project dealing with sexually abused children is not to fold.

A storm-damaged building where the work is centred will have to be demolished unless the cash can be raised.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Middlesbrough, the landlords of the building, in Middlesbrough, is finding the charity temporary accommodation. But it is unable to afford the £100,000 cost of repairs, half of which the charity will have to find.

"The worst case scenario is that no one can find the money and the project will have to close,'' said Richard Taylor, assistant director of children's services for Barnardo's NorthEast and in charge of the Middlesbrough Bridgeway pioneering project with traumatised youngsters.

"We are now in a position where, but for £50,000, children who have been sexually abused and who come from Stockton, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland are going to be deprived of this very valuable, therapeutic service.

"The Diocese of Middlesbrough has been marvellous in helping to find us temporary accommodation and we are grateful. We desperately need to be back in our own building, however.

"We need donations, large of small, or we'd like to hear from any local building firms who could possibly donate their company's time and skills. The situation really is that desperate."

He said: "The interior of the building was specially designed to make children feel safe and comfortable. It is bright, light and airy and the children we work with felt at ease there. But their progress has been disrupted over the past few months because of all the uncertainty and constant changes of location.

"This is a nationally known project doing vital work for children in the area and we need to do everything we can to make sure the service can continue in Middlesbrough.''

Youngsters have been shuttled round local school halls and schools, when consistency is almost as important as safety, said Mr Taylor.

The eight-year-old project, which came in the wake of the 1987 Cleveland child abuse scandal, carries out 1,800 therapeutic sessions a year.

Barnardo's can be contacted on 0191- 240 4800.

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