A GROUP set up to help disabled parents is celebrating after finding a new venue in Bodmin.

Since it started last year, the Family History Research For You Disabled Parent Support Group has been operating from the Pannier Market in Wadebridge.

However, the contract recently came to an end and members launched a desperate appeal to find new premises. This week the group held a party celebrating its relocation to an office in Ministry Of Signs building at Walker Lines industrial estate.

One of the guests was Sian Flynn, the Conservative's prospective parliamentary candidate for North Cornwall.

Mary Jane Peterson, from the group, which is hoping to become a registered charity, said: "Family History Research For You Disabled Parent Support Group is a self-help organisation where people can come in, sit down and talk on equal grounds.

"The group offers emotional support for disabled parents and we would like to develop the group further to be able to offer a mediation service between the client and the social services where parents can go for assistance and help with form-filling, grants, assistance getting disability aids, etc."

Mrs Paterson, who has cerebral palsy, says she has also come up against barriers while being pregnant and in raising her family.

She added: "Even a trip to the supermarket can cause problems. To get about I use a power-chair and need to use a car with a side lift and we find parking near impossible at times. Our project for 2010 is to have one parking space for cars with side lifts for the disabled in every car park throughout Cornwall."

The group needs help in raising funds to become a registered charity and is looking for people to become trustees.

Mrs Paterson said: "We also need to raise £5,000 to become a registered charity and once we are, we will then be better equipped to help disabled people and really get up and running."

To find out more information contact Mrs Peterson on 0844 2492919, or you can log on to www.familyhistoryresearch4u.co.uk