The service has secured funding to meet its cash shortfall

Dumfries and Galloway Council has awarded �56,000 to the Upper Nithsdale Family Project to ensure its survival.

The authority received a plea for help from children's charity NCH, which runs the pioneering service.

The future of the project which provides care for vulnerable children and their families and those in crisis is now secured until March 2007.

Wilma Paterson, who chairs the children's services committee, said it had recognised the importance of the project in making the award.

"The service it provides in Upper Nithsdale is unique and we identified a number of risks should the project be threatened with closure," she said.

NCH do a lot of good work in our area and its closure would have been disastrous Jim Dempster Chairman Mid and Upper Nithsdale area committee

"The effect to children and their families of closure would have been unacceptable.

"We are talking about families who are perhaps going through a difficult period in their life and it is paramount that support and advice is on hand."

Councillor Jim Dempster who chairs the Mid and Upper Nithsdale area committee also welcomed the award.

"NCH do a lot of good work in our area and its closure would have been disastrous.

"It delivers a service to well over 200 users both individually and in group work."