MONEY is needed urgently to save a life-changing service for young people.

Relate Dorset has already stopped taking new clients on its young people counselling service, said Kelly Amor, the charity's business development and sustainability manager.

She said the Dorchester-based organisation is funding the service, one of several run in addition to its long-established relationship counselling, from its reserves.

But no money had been found to replace grants that ran out at the end of the financial year.

Now the charity is determined to find funding to save youth counselling and other services.

She said: "The reality is that we cannot carry on in this situation."

The charity needs £30,000 to run the youth counselling service every year. It has suspended plans to open an outpost for young people in Weymouth and Portland.

Mrs Amor said: "We really want to find funding that will secure the service for three years instead of going on like this.

"We're determined not to let these young people down. Some of them are in crisis. They might have been let down by every adult they have ever known - but we're not going to let them down."

She said there was a waiting list for most of the charity's services.

As well as an established Friends of Relate group, the charity has a new Young Friends of Relate, set up by 14-year-old twin sisters Jade and Tamsin Evans of Weymouth.

Mrs Amor said: "Events that our supporters hold raise money that is badly needed.

"But we need major funding fast or our services will go. So many people and organisations look to Relate."

The charity had raised more than £110,000 from trusts and donations for youth counselling.

Mrs Amor said counselling is provided in Dorchester and four other towns and space had been offered in Weymouth. The Purbeck area also needed an outpost.

She said: "By helping young people cope with or make changes in their lives to improve their difficulties we are giving them a model for life."

The service had previously offered up to 50 appointments a week but they were now limiting the number of sessions they can offer.

She said: "For the first time since starting the service we have agreed a payment from some parents who are desperate for their child to see a counsellor - out of necessity."

Anyone who can help is asked to contact Mrs Amor at the charity's centre on 01305 259779.