A SAFE haven for homeless teenage mothers in Didcot is threatened with closure after the Government stopped its funding.

The Didcot house is one of 28 run by charity LIFE nationwide, offering support and guidance to the young mums bringing up babies in difficult circumstances.

The house, which has been in the town for more than 25 years, has helped countless mothers across South Oxfordshire during their pregnancies and difficult first few months.

But cuts in the Department for Communities and Local Government’s Supporting People fund, which take effect at the end of September, means the residential centre must find £43,000 a year to stay in operation. Already support worker Clare Dickens’ hours have been cut back and the charity is appealing for volunteers to help run the centre.

Now the mums living at the LIFE House have vowed to fight its closure, and are holding a fundraising fete at the South Didcot Children's Centre, in Hillary Drive, on Saturday, opposite Didcot Wave, from 12pm to 3pm and includes crafts, face painting, a plant stall and a raffle.

Up to half a dozen young women, aged 16 to 25, stay at the three-bedroom house each year, where they learn about childcare, household skills and money management before being encouraged to find a place of their own after six months.

Amy Churchward, 19, whose daughter Phoebe was born eight months ago, was referred to the house in February because her family home in Didcot was already crowded. She said other young mums would suffer if the centre closed.

She said: “If it were not for here, I would either be at home or homeless. It would have been too much for me just to go straight into a place of my own. I think it would have been really stressful, learning all these new things, having to deal with a new house and learning how to bring up a baby.

“Without the LIFE House, I think there would be a lot more girls with post-natal depression. It would be too much to cope with.”

Jen McGuigan, 17, whose son Jayden is three months old, said: “I feel far more independent here and not relying on my mum or other people the whole time.

“Without it, I would feel scared. I would probably be homeless, and I would not be able to cope.”

To donate to the jumble sale call 01235 511444, and to find out about volunteering call Elaine Hall on 07789 744748.