A DOMESTIC abuse service threatened with closure has renewed its plea to the government to provide more funding to support victims.

Northumberland Domestic Abuse Services (NDAS), which is the only specialist domestic abuse service in Northumberland to offer support and counselling for children, as well as supporting hundreds of people every year, will close at the end of March if funding cannot be found.

The service recently applied for government funding, but was unsuccessful.

NDAS’s development officer, Heather Pringle, said the new draft Domestic Abuse Bill, which was published last month and established new protections for those who suffer control and violence at the hands of their partners, was a positive move – but added that without proper funding, it was just words.

“We haven’t got the government funding,” said Heather. “I asked the Home Office for feedback, and they said there was such a demand for funding. I think the draft domestic abuse bill is a positive step, but it needs to come with a funding package. We understand that the budget isn’t big enough, but they have to recognise that there’s a lot of of specialist organisations that they should strengthen because you’ll lose a lot of skilled people.”

The failure to secure funding means the organisation is currently looking at closing its doors by the end of March.

NDAS trustees are working hard to find a new funding option, but nothing is yet to come forward.

Despite this, Heather praised the community’s support for the campaign to save the service.

She added: “It’s been great. We’re very grateful to all the people who have taken part and shared something. It’s just not come to anything quite substantial yet.”