The Family Centre is hosting a telethon tonight with the aim of raising $250,000 to better assist families here.

According to director Martha Dismont, the organisation has seen a 50 percent increase in demand for its services since this time last year.

If the telethon does not raise the money needed, the situation for families could be "dire" next year when family service agencies expect to suffer from even more budget cuts, said Mrs. Dismont.

Tonight's four-hour broadcast will include interviews with staff and performances by young people.

Mrs. Dismont said: "We have to do well and encourage people to give as they are able, in order to help us to ensure our services are sustained. In the United States charities have seen demands for services increase and funds decrease. Bermuda hasn't seen that yet, but if people don't continue to give we will have a real crisis on our hands."

She continued: "It is really important. We believe that a lot of what we are seeing in the community, the issues we are all struggling with, with the young people as well as the parents, require us to pay attention to the issues in order to solve them."

The broadcast will take place from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. on VSB Channel 11. Money raised will go towards the Family Centre's 'Caring for Families Programme' which provides counselling services to children and parents in need. It will also ensure that "fewer families fall through the cracks", said Mrs Dismont.