In the present global financial crisis which has left many people feeling uncertain about their own futures, it's only human to feel one is almost being badgered by far too many charities all with equal appeal. If you had to choose between giving money to disabled children or to MATCH, we would understand your difficulty. However, please consider how we'd use your donation.

Since 1979 our main priority has been to remain financially stable to meet Members' needs but our subscriptions are deliberately kept low (£12 to join and £12 to renew) to ensure that no one is excluded on financial grounds. The MATCH Newsletter is Members' main support - not everyone is on the internet - and increasing printing and postage costs must be met. We have no office, all Trustees and volunteers are unpaid, and we run MATCH from our own homes despite some of us having full-time jobs.

High on our 'Wish List' is a need to improve the emotional support we offer those experiencing chronic bereavement-like symptoms and severe depression for many years. Several Members have been diagnosed as suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome. The majority of our Members would benefit from one-to-one professional counselling to help them come to terms with their complex situations as mothers apart, to re-build their health, wellbeing and confidence, and to re-join the work force.

Our charitable status (granted in September 2006) has enabled us to Gift Aid all donations, as well as apply to some trust funds, grant-making organisations and government funding where we ‘fit’. However, a great deal of competition exists for grants among many worthy or famous causes which we completely understand and accept.

Our first success in fund-raising came in August 2007 for the development of this website with a grant from The Eleanor Rathbone Charitable Fund, and the second in December 2007 with a grant from The Sylvia Aitken Charitable Trust for changes to the website. We are immensely grateful to both these organisations.

You can donate to MATCH in the following ways:

• Give by Standing Order
• Make a one-off donation
• Remember MATCH in your Will
• Gift Aid it