A Yorkshire-based domestic abuse charity has secured £175,000 in funding that will allow it to continue operating after it previously feared closure.
Sheffield-based charity Vida received funding from organisations including Brelms Trust, Lloyds Bank Foundation, Synergy Mental Health Alliance and Henry Smith Charity, which will allow the charity to continue its operation until March 2026.
The charity previously announced in November 2024 that it was set to close at the end of March this year due to funding cuts.
On the new funding, it stated: “The charity extends its deepest gratitude to Brelms Trust, Lloyds Bank Foundation, and Synergy MHA, whose generous support has helped secure Vida’s immediate future.
“Special thanks also go to Henry Smith Charity, who worked closely with Vida following confirmation of support late last year.”
“This critical financial support allows Vida to maintain its essential counselling, therapy, and recovery programs, preventing the imminent closure that had threatened its future.”
‘A relief’
Chief executive of the charity Karen Hague told Civil Society: “It would have been extremely sad to have announced after 30 years that the charity would close.
“So, all of us at Vida, including our service users, are absolutely elated that we can continue to deliver our services for women and girls who have suffered trauma in their past, and they just need that support to help them get on with their lives.
“We don't know where they would go if our service did not exist. So, it's a relief.”
The charity has invited its service users and everyone who is associated with the charity to celebrate its 30th anniversary on 20 June.
Ongoing funding challenge
Hague added that despite the short-term funding it has received, the charity needs further support to continue operating long-term.
“What we really need is core, multi-year funding from the government to recognise the savings that we make in the sector,” she said.
“From a mental health perspective, the voluntary and community sector can save £11 for every £1 invested by the government, which is a significant amount, but yet, we don't receive any core government funding to ensure that we can continue to plan our services year-on-year.
“We're hopeful that during the government spending review that more funding will be allocated, in which case we can benefit. That will enable us to plan ahead in future.
“But we will still need to fundraise, we will still look at corporate support and we will still look at individual giving.”
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