A MENTAL health support group which is aiming to reach out to vulnerable people across Wyre Forest is being hampered by a shortfall in funding, it has been revealed.

Wyre Forest MIND is running a deficit of about £10,000 this financial year and is having to use a legacy to meet a recent cut in funding by Worcestershire County Council's social services department.

In a report to its annual meeting last week, chairman Jenny Knowles said: "We would very much like to expand and hold drop-ins in Bewdley and Stourport, but insufficient funding does not make this possible."

But speaking to the Shuttle/Times & News she said she was "very optimistic" that Wyre Forest Primary Care Trust would grant some financial support in 2003.

She added while some voluntary groups and charities were able to support themselves through fund-raising, MIND and other mental health groups did not attract such support.

And she repeated the organisation's call for more volunteers to come forward and work with people with mental health needs.

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