THE mother of a murdered teenager plans to open a drop-in centre in Woolwich for families coping with the trauma of losing a loved one.

And the brother of murdered teenager Jimmy Mizen, Tommy, has supported the plans.

Lynne Booker set up the Terry Booker Foundation after her 19-year-old son Terry was stabbed to death in Plumstead in 2000.

The group provides bereaved families with support and counselling services at monthly meetings at The Youth Club, in Nightingale Place, Nightingale Vale, Woolwich.

But Mrs Booker claims the group's success means they need a more permanent base where families can come, five days a week, for information on services.

She is also in discussion with charity the Safer London Foundation for funding to cover the group’s yearly budget of £9,700 and is appealing to Greenwich Council for help.

She will meet cabinet member for neighbourhood services Councillor Maureen O’Mara on November 27 to discuss the possibility of funding and help finding a suitable property for the centre in Woolwich.

She said: “I really need the council's support to open the centre.

"But I intend to open it with or without help from the council and I’m looking to run the centre as a two year pilot.

“The centre will be open for everybody to use and it will make a hell of a lot of difference to bereaved families.

“There’s nothing like it in Woolwich, so watch out because the Terry Booker Foundation is coming.”

Tommy Mizen, of Dallinger Road, Lee, lost his 16-year-old brother Jimmy when he was stabbed to death in a bakery near his home in May.

The 26-year-old builder has welcomed Mrs Booker’s plans and said: “I think it’s a brilliant idea because there’s a lot of people who don’t have the support I had from my family.

“A drop-in centre is a great thing to have around and people need to be aware of the support and services that are available for them.”

Mrs Booker would like to hear from members of the public about what services they would like offered at the drop-in centre.

For more information on the Terry Booker Foundation, visit terrybookerfoundation.org, or call Mrs Booker on 07768 373420.