A HUGE question mark hangs over the future of an information and advice centre which has helped thousands of Eastleigh youngsters.

Doors to the Eastleigh Lincs Centre - in part of the former Town Hall in Leigh Road - officially opened only two years ago.

From an initial number of about 14 visitors per month, use of the centre by young people aged between 13 and 25 has rocketed to an average of 188.

But a financial cloud is hanging over the drop-in base which offers free confidential, non-judgemental information and advice plus support on a wide range of social issues including family and relationships, housing, sexual health, benefits and money, career and employment training and education.

In the centre's newly-published annual report, funding was said to have been a major issue during the year ended March 2004.

Centre manager Alan Smith said: "Access to some funding was cut off due to the centre's close association with the local authority while other funders were only willing to provide funds for project-based initiatives, leaving the centre struggling to generate income to meet its revenue costs."

The centre is financed entirely by grants and donations and Mr Smith told the Daily Echo: "If you are a statutory authority you are automatically denied access to certain funding.

"Our close association with Eastleigh Council has prevented us gaining cash from things such as the Local Network Fund for children and young people. People also seem to think that because of that association we are well off for money - but we are not."

He added: "With the tendering contracts to run drop-in centres beyond 2004-2005 still not known, Lincs is facing an uncertain future."

After two years at the helm, Mr Smith is leaving the centre to take up a new job with Hampshire police and his successor has yet to be appointed. But he said: "I hope that the situation is resolved sooner rather than later because with such strong foundations having been laid and a strong client base having developed it would be a shame if the project or the services crashed because of a lack of funding or direction.

"The centre has fulfilled a need for young people who have been facing difficulties. The growth and development of the range of services that we offer has effectively increased the client potential and we would be failing our future citizens if it didn't continue."

During the past 12 months Lincs has seen considerable development with the government-backed Connexions service - providing advice, guidance and support to 13 to 19-year-olds - moving into office accommodation in the old town hall premises which is also the base for a UK Online Centre.

New links were forged with organisations dealing with substance abuse, jobs, parenting and housing while a new evening cyber cafe was recently launched and a youth forum set up.