A CHARITY which provides a haven for homeless parents and their children is to expand its services after receiving a £300,000 boost.

The Gingerbread Centre, in Furnace Road, Longton, has been granted the money from the BIG Lottery Fund.

The centre, which is about to celebrate its 35th birthday, caters for some of the most vulnerable people in Stoke-on-Trent, who may have fled home due to domestic violence or drug abuse.

The charity has 21 self-contained flats for lone parents in the city and it also runs a unit for 16 and 17-year-old mums in Hanley.

The £304,215 windfall will go towards expanding its services as demand reaches a new high in the current economic climate.

It will pay for two full-time helpers and one part-time staff member, as well as allowing the charity to increase its outreach work.

Chief executive Barbara Fox, who launched the charity after bringing up daughter Sarah on her own, said the cash would go a long way to help many families.

She added: "It is a great result and we have come such a long way since we started.

"The money will allow us to do more work with the families and encourage them to raise their confidence and self-esteem."

Barbara added: "We want to open up our help to those who need support all across Stoke-on-Trent.

"We will train parents to get involved with the project so they can offer their expertise to other people in distress."

Other plans include holding healthy lifestyle workshops, keep-fit sessions and quit smoking classes on site.

Housing team manager Jean Lawton has helped lone parents for 13 years.

The 57-year-old, from Stoke, said: "I am so excited about the money. It will give the families huge opportunities.

"These funds mean we can now be more far-reaching with our help and provide our services across the area.

"Stoke-on-Trent isn't always seen in the best light, but there is some great work going on and I am so pleased that we can be part of making a difference to people's lives."

A 32-year-old, from Stoke-on-Trent, who has used the services since 2010, said the Gingerbread Centre had been her lifeline.

The mother, who asked not to be named, said: "I came to Gingerbread with my children because we were unsafe.

"I received a lot of support and I was helped to feel better about myself and my situation.

"My children are now settled and happy and we don't have to keep moving anymore.

"I am a volunteer now and I was involved in the consultation and application for the BIG Lottery Fund so I am so excited that Gingerbread has been successful."

The Gingerbread Centre is one of five projects in the West Midlands to receive grants today totalling nearly £1.3 million from the BIG Lottery's Reaching Communities fund.