When most people think about supporting a local charity, they picture a fundraising event or making a donation.

Mary's Child is asking Peterborough businesses to think a little differently.

The charity, based in Orton Goldhay, supports families and individuals facing difficult circumstances by providing practical help when it's needed most.

That includes food parcels, family support, welfare and housing advice, community cafés, legal guidance and a listening ear during some of life's hardest moments.

Its Family Support Team works alongside people until they're through the immediate crisis rather than simply offering one-off assistance.

Over recent months the charity has also expanded what it offers from its community centre.

Alongside its cafés, it now provides an IT drop-in to help people develop digital skills, a mother-and-baby café and plans for future workshops, gardening projects and activities designed to improve confidence, wellbeing and employment skills.

Growing those services takes more than goodwill.

It needs businesses willing to become long-term community partners.

Rather than simply making a donation, local companies can sponsor part of the charity's work.

That might mean helping fund a month of community cafés, supporting a member of the Family Support Team, backing new workshops or contributing towards projects that help local families build confidence and independence.

There are other ways to help too.

Businesses can encourage staff volunteering, support fundraising events or provide skills that strengthen the charity's work in the community.

For many companies, supporting a local charity isn't just about corporate responsibility.

It can strengthen staff engagement, demonstrate commitment to the local community and help create lasting relationships with organisations making a visible difference close to home.

Every week Mary's Child works with people whose lives have been affected by financial pressures, family breakdown, housing problems or unexpected crises.

The question isn't whether those challenges exist in Peterborough.

It's whether more local businesses could play a part in helping people overcome them.

If your business was able to support one local project this year, which would you choose?