A NEW family support group for people affected by being exposed to alcohol while in the womb starts in Dereham at the end of the month.FASD (foetal alcohol spectrum disorders) are a range of physical and mental disabilities a person is born with because they were exposed to alcohol while in the womb and a charity is hoping to use Dereham as a central point for all people in Norfolk who are affected.

A NEW family support group for people affected by being exposed to alcohol while in the womb starts in Dereham at the end of the month.

FASD (foetal alcohol spectrum disorders) are a range of physical and mental disabilities a person is born with because they were exposed to alcohol while in the womb and a charity is hoping to use Dereham as a central point for all people in Norfolk who are affected.

The FASD Trust, an Oxfordshire-based charity, will be holding its first meeting on January 31 at the Wellspring Family Centre in Neatherd Road at 11am. Child care and a light lunch are available. The event is free and all are welcome.

While a lot of people now realise it is not a good idea to drink alcohol when pregnant, many do not realise that it can actually cause a named, quantified medical condition which is a lifelong condition.

The charity aims to raise awareness of FASD and provide support to families caring for someone affected, be that their own birth

children or adopted/fostered children.

It is estimated that as many as 1 in 100 children are born each year in the UK with FASD.