A REFUGE which provides a lifeline to women fleeing domestic abuse has launched a fundraising drive to make up an annual £50,000 shortfall.

Family Help, the charity which runs the refuge in Darlington, receives no or partial state funding for many of its services that are considered essential by the staff and women who use the refuge.

Services the refuge needs to find money for include children's support workers, counselling and implementing The Freedom Programme, which helps women understand domestic violence and prevent them from becoming victims again.

Funding is also needed for aspects of the refuge's outreach work, which help women leaving the refuge become self-sufficient, and therefore less likely to return to an abusive relationship.

The refuge provides a 24 hour service, 365 days a year.

Filling in an application form for a grant can take up to ten hours, and some grants are restricted to three years' funding, which means the refuge is continually having to apply to different funds in the hope of getting enough money to keep all the services running.

Refuge manager Susan said that many of the women who came to the refuge had children with them, who could often feel displaced and upset.

"For obvious reasons, women escaping domestic abuse quite often need to bring their children with them, " she said.

"At the moment, we have seven women and 16 children here. Different children are affected differently by domestic violence.

"But coming to live in a refuge can be very postive for young people. They are in a safe place, and will often talk to each other, or the staff about things which are bothering them."

Linda, who arrived at the refuge a few weeks ago after escaping an abusive partner, said the staff there had helped her to turn her life around.

"I feel like a different person, " she said. "I was really in despair before I came here.

"I couldn't sleep at night because I thought my ex was going to come and get me. I couldn't concentrate at work.

"The police came in the middle of the night and told me I had to leave my flat and all my things and come here.

"The first day I came here, I cried because it was so nice.

"They helped me with everything - practical support for my other problems, including debts; they got me to a doctor and I got sleeping pills; they were there to listen, and I felt safe.

"It is such a good place - it saves lives."

Anyone who is affected by domestic abuse, or who would like to raise funds or make a donation to the charity, can call Family Help on 01325-364486.