Five family support agencies are looking to raise $800,000 to keep their services operating in the coming year.

The Family Resource Network Trust, an umbrella organisation set up two months ago to coordinate the services of the five charities, provides intervention, treatment and prevention services for families under threat. Network members are The Coalition for the Protection of Children, The Institute for Child and Family Health, The Fathers Resource Centre, The Physical Abuse Centre and PARENTS.

FRNCT chairman David Ezekiel said: "The slow or sudden breakdown of a family through abuse, neglect or lack of love is unfortunately a reality in Bermuda.

"Every child has a right to a permanent and loving family. Only with the support of individuals, families and corporations can we improve this enormously important business of the heart.

"To succeed in helping families who struggle with life's challenges and crises, we need intensive, comprehensive, flexible programmes staffed by professionals and volunteers with the time and skills to make a difference.

"The Family Resource Network Charitable Trust is a newly established alliance of five key service providers who will endeavour to provide assistance for these families. They will provide psychological, social, financial, legal, educational and support services designed to address the needs of families in crisis and to provide the skills to break out of the cycle of helplessness.'' Mr. Ezekiel emphasised that the vast majority of funding goes straight to those in need.

"With the five charitable organisations represented currently demonstrate an average 75 percent dollar effectiveness ratio (for every dollar received 75 cents is applied to direct services as opposed to administration), we anticipate significant improvement in this ration as a result of the consolidation of services achieved through the formation of the FRNCT,'' Mr.

Ezekiel said.

"Donor generated funds managed by charitable services are infinitely more cost effective than a burdensome income tax system.

"Our extensive use of volunteers contributes enormously to savings in costs.

Some 5,000 man hours ranging from lawyers and accountants to secretarial services are donated annually by approximately 260 caring professionals.'' More than one third of the funding will be used to run the Physical Abuse Centre, which needs $289,000 to provide secure accommodation for the victims of domestic violence and a counselling service.

A further $207,000 is needed by the Institute for Child and Family Health to run psychotherapy treatment to youngsters.

The Coalition for the Protection of Children is asking for $69,000 to run conflict resolution and peer mediation programmes in schools, as well as operating a 24 hour crisis helpline for parents.

The Fathers Resource Centre needs an additional $50,000 to provide a support group for dads while PARENTS (Parent Awareness Resources for Educating, Nurturing and Training Skills) is looking for $92,000 to facilitate self help discussion groups and maintain a conference library.

In addition another $92,000 is needed to develop FRNCT's rent free facility.

"The magnitude of intervention that's required to break the cycle of poverty, dysfunction and dependency is substantial,'' Mr. Ezekiel said. "It is therefore vital that we, as a community, seek out the most cost effective approaches to addressing these problems.'' Anyone who is interested in donating to the Family Resource Network Charitable Trust or finding out more about its work can contact the organisation on 295 1150.