Home / Crime and Justice / Domestic Abuse Charity Faces Closure After 31 Years
Domestic Abuse Charity Faces Closure After 31 Years
15 Jun
Summary
- Vida, a charity supporting women for 31 years, is closing due to funding.
- The Sheffield-based service accepts around 200 referrals annually.
- The charity requires £250,000 yearly but faces a funding crisis.
A domestic abuse charity in Sheffield, Vida, which has been operational for 31 years, is slated for closure later this year due to an acute lack of funding. The charity, established in the mid-1990s, annually supports around 200 women through referrals from various organizations.
Vida's chair, Marilyn Gregory, stated that the service requires approximately £250,000 each year to operate. While National Lottery funding provided a reprieve last year, recent funding applications have been unsuccessful, leading to a "crisis point." Gregory highlighted the continuous challenge of securing financial backing over the past five years, expressing exhaustion among the staff.
Despite a petition launched in 2024 urging Sheffield City Council for emergency funding, the council stated it could not provide direct financial support. Council officials mentioned investing in a range of organizations, including women's refuges and helplines, as part of their Domestic Abuse Strategy. The council acknowledged Vida's long-standing reputation and thanked its staff for their contributions, while confirming they had not funded Vida directly for some time.
