Charity Home-Start East Surrey will this month celebrate 20 years of helping local families with an anniversary dinner-dance at Bletchingley Golf Club.

The cause, which helps families who have at least one child under five years old, and who are undergoing hardships such as domestic violence, child abuse or multiple births, will be marking its milestone with a fundraising evening at the golf club in Church Lane, Bletchingley, on Friday, April 25, at 7.30pm.

The event will feature live band Reservoir Frogs and a live auction and raffle.

Charity patron Sally Marks, vice chairman of Surrey County Council for Caterham Valley, borough and Tandridge district, and long-time supporter of the cause, will be attending, along with Tandridge district councillor Beverley Connolly, as well as friends and supporters. Home-Start East Surrey, which is a member of Home-Start UK, is based in Redhill, and under its services, trained volunteers visit families regularly to provide friendship, advice and help.

They also organise outings for the families to enable them to have a respite from the problems they encounter in their daily lives.

Home-Start also supports the One Step at a Time initiative, to help children with disabilities and special needs in the Surrey area.

Due to increasing demand, the cause has recently expanded into Mole Valley and more volunteers are needed.

The charity is funded by local councils and trusts, but more support is needed to cover the shortfall in the decreasing financial grants it receives.

Tickets for the anniversary dinner dance are priced £30 and are available on 01737 770220, or by email to: homestarteastsurrey@btconnect.com All funds raised at the dinner-dance will be used to support the charity's work in East Surrey. Website: www.home-start.org.uk