The society's Scarborough and Newby branches have teamed up with Home-Start Ryedale to enable the charity to help parents cope with issues ranging from social isolation to money problems and post-natal depression.

The new project, based in Malton, will be officially launched in September and is the latest group to be created by the UK's largest family support charity, which helps families with children under five.

An initial donation from the society of £2,000 helped it establish its charity status, and it will receive a minimum donation of £500 a year from each of the Scarborough's nine branches which stretch from Middlesbrough to Lincoln as part of the society's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) commitment.

Russell Thompson, Scarborough town-centre branch manager, said: "We are delighted to be associated with Home-Start Ryedale and hope our relationship will enable the scheme to reach even more families across the region.

"Home-Start represents an important source of support for many families and we hope that our partnership will give the charity in this area an additional source of funding."

Tracy Beecroft, Home-Start Ryedale co-ordinator, said: "We would like to thank Scarborough for the all round support that they have shown us over the past year.

"Our initial focus will be on Malton and Norton and the surrounding rural area, with expansion across the whole of Ryedale being dependant upon securing further funding."

Home-Start Ryedale is now looking for volunteers to become part of its dedicated team. For more information call Tracy Beecroft on (01653) 693551.