A CHARITY supporting grieving parents has appealed for more funding to deal with increased calls and explore setting up a food bank.

Mark Roberts set up the Grieving Parents Support Group in 2002 after his 20-month-old son Matthew died in a bath accident.

The former chef said this year the charity, which he runs with his wife Sarah, had received more than 4,000 calls.

The 71-year-old also wanted to open up a food bank style service in Cutteslowe, north Oxford, delivering parcels to people in the area who struggled to get around.

He said: "We are looking for sponsors to help out the charity – we want to be able to help grieving families even more with things like funeral costs and to just be there to support them.

"When you lose a child it's the only thing you think about and we want to help parents.

"My wife responds to calls during the day and I take the night-time shift and the majority of calls I get are from fathers who need someone to talk to."

Mr Roberts said it was often harder for grieving parents in the run up to Christmas and called for donations to help the charity best support its callers.

The couple operate the charity, which is used by people all over the country, from their house in Cutteslowe but it costs around £10,000 a year to run.

The Oxford Mail helped raise almost £1,000 for the charity in late 2008 after publishing an appeal and Mr Roberts regularly fundraises around the city throughout the year.

But he said the charity, which has received more calls this year than ever before, was doing well and he wanted to make use of his former career as a chef to help his community.

He said: "It started off as an idea for grieving parents, as cooking and eating can be the last thing they want to do so wanted to help them out.

"But over the winter we thought we could also take food parcels to the elderly and other people in need in Cutteslowe.

"We would need a van for this so would welcome any donations or sponsors keen to get involved."

To donate to the cause or if you or someone you know needs support after the loss of a child, the charity can be contacted on 01865 556566.