Alan Edworthy, of Chelston Road, Newton Abbot, writes:

Could I please take the opportunity through your paper to say a huge heartfelt thank you to my fiancée Sally for the fantastic job she is doing in raising our two wonderful children, George, three, and Alice, almost two.

As with most families I have to work full time, leaving the majority of the childcare to Sally.

I am fortunate in that I have one day off a week, so that Sally can go to work. This means I get to spend a whole day with George and Alice on my own, playing, eating the wrong things and generally undoing all the good work Sally does the other six days. They are both excellent fun to be with and my heart fills with pride when complete strangers compliment me on how well behaved (!) and well presented they both are. I also have a huge pang of guilt because I know that any praise should be going to Sally and not to me.

However, the flipside of this is that I also realise what hard work looking after children on your own can be and as much as I love my one-day a week I know I couldn't cope doing it as a full time parent as Sally does.

And the secret to Sally's success? Home-Start Teignbridge.

Sally has attended the Friday Play Café since George was three months old and has made some good friends there, as have both George and Alice. Following Alice's birth Sally would not have coped had it not been for the love and support shown from the Home-Start team and the advice and comfort they provided. Friday mornings are seen as a chance to share experiences with other mums (and occasional dads) and offer each other support and help where needed.

Therefore I'm sure you can understand why we are both, especially Sally, very upset that this group now faces possible closure due to a lack of funding. It has done so much for us, and countless other families in the area.

Could I please urge to all parents to show your support for Home-Start by joining the Save Our Home-Start facebook campaign. You never know when you may need the help Home-Start provide.

Can I also appeal to any local businesses that may be able to help? I know times are hard but this is a local organisation helping local families who then go and spend money in local businesses, and remember sponsorship can be advantageous to both parties.

So if anyone can help keep Play Cafe operational (and our Sally sane) please ring Home-Start on 01626 353700.MORE LETTERS IN OUR ONLINE EDITION