A struggling west Lancashire charity supporting victims of domestic violence and abuse has been handed a £50,000 lifeline.

Lloyds Bank Foundation, one of the UK’s leading community grant makers, has awarded the donation to the Liberty Centre, formerly West Lancashire Women's Refuge, to fund its work over the next two years.

The award will help the charity expand its work through refuge provision, outreach, confidence-building courses, group work and counselling so that those experiencing or fleeing domestic abuse can rebuild their lives positively. The grant will also contribute towards 50% of the chief executive’s salary for the next two years, securing the charity’s future at a time of growing need.

In 2017, the charity celebrates its 30th anniversary of delivering services in West Lancashire; yesterday Chief executive, Eleanor Maddocks - who escaped from domestic violence and successfully settled in a new area with six children - spoke of her joy after news of the grant was made public.

She set up the refuge in 1987 in response to her own experience, determined that local women should have a safe place to escape from domestic violence; her own experience has been the driving force behind the charity’s rapid growth and successful delivery of services for those experiencing domestic and sexual abuse, including local sexual abuse services for the first time.

Now the search is on to recruit a successor who can secure the charity’s long-term future and continue to deliver on Eleanor’s legacy to the community.

Eleanor told QLocal: “We are delighted to be supported by Lloyds Bank Foundation for the next two years.

“This funding will help us to continue to support young people, women and men, and families living with, or at risk of, domestic abuse.

“Raising awareness, providing a safe place to stay, building confidence, offering support and counselling and a 24-hour helpline are all part of our essential services.

“The foundation’s support means we can provide information, advice and awareness-raising across the community so that anyone affected by domestic abuse knows there is a trusted, accessible and effective service that meets their individual needs whenever they need it.”

Added Paul Streets, chief executive of Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales: “We are proud to support The Liberty Centre in its invaluable work reaching out, engaging with and empowering more disadvantaged individuals helping them move on from domestic abuse to improve their lives.

“Through our grants and wider support, Lloyds Bank Foundation will continue to fund, champion and help to build the capacity of small, specialist charities like The Liberty Centre that are an integral part of the social fabric of our communities.

“Relentless cuts to public spending, unfair commissioning processes and rising demand for their services have hit small charities hard. In this perfect storm, funding from independent grant makers can literally mean the difference between survival and closure.”

Last year county council chiefs proposed to end funding for the refuge centres, but new money was found.

Click here for a recent QLocal story about a grant made by the local police and Crime Commisioner: http://ormskirk.qlocal.co.uk/ormskir...e-54673998.htm

And click here for the charity's blog: http://www.dvsswl.org.uk/news/