A CHARITY helping mothers with mental health issues across Wirral has been given £15,000 funding boost from Cheshire Freemasons.

Home-Start Wirral trains volunteers to help those suffering from with post-natal depression and other mental health issues.

The volunteers, who are parents themselves, are trained to provide tailor-made practical and emotional support to families.

The charity says this approach has often proved to be more effective than direct intervention by mental health professionals, who are increasingly referring clients to the charity.

Over the last 17 years, 1,305 Home-Start Wirral volunteers have supported 10,889 families and 12,953 children.

Its chief executive Bev Morgan said: "I am very grateful to Cheshire Freemasons for their generous grant, which will allow us to train volunteers who can in turn support dozens of families who need our help."

The money from Cheshire Freemasons comes through the Masonic Charitable Foundation, which receives donations from Freemason, their families and friends from across England and Wales.

Stephen Blank, leader of Cheshire Freemasons, said: "Wirral is a very important part of the Masonic Province of Cheshire.

"My members give generously to support the community at large, so we are very pleased to be able to help Home Start Wirral, who do an outstanding job supporting mothers and families in our community at a time when they are most vulnerable."