Wakefield domestic abuse charity The Rosalie Ryrie Foundation makes desperate plea for help to keep running

The Rosalie Ryrie Foundation offers guidance and practical support to women, men and children all affected by domestic abuse.

But despite its success in helping victims and perpetrators turn their lives around, the charity's centre on Brunswick Street in Wakefield may shut for good at the end of August, potentially leaving troubled local families with nowhere to turn.

Lottery funding has helped to sustain the Foundation over the last three years.

But despite applying for more cash in February, delays caused by lockdown mean they're still waiting for a response.

The charity's deputy manager, Helen Oades said: "On August 31 the doors will be closing, unless we get help. It is that urgent.

"We've been putting together funding bids for whatever we can.

"There is an awful lot of domestic abuse funding that has been released this year, but it's been predominantly for women and children who are physically fleeing abusive households.

"Because we work with men and women and our approach is very specialised and long-term, we don't fit the criteria for funding."

Christine (not her real name) credits the charity's tireless volunteers and staff with giving her getting her "back on an even keel" after her relationship turned emotionally abusive. She said its closure would be "devastating".

"I honestly don't know how I would have coped without them," Christine said.

"Whenever I needed them they were there. I don't think there's anything else in Wakefield quite like it.

"I look at the people they're helping who are six to 12 months behind me in their recovery and I don’t know what on earth they’re going to do if the charity closes."

Domestic abuse cases have spiked across the country as a result of lockdown and the charity believes the impact on families around the area will be "absolutely massive" if it's unable to carry on.

They've asked for anyone who is able to do so to donate.

Helen added: "Every pound will be precious. It could be the difference between us being able to pay the electricity bill or not this month.

"Money is what we desperately need. But if there's people out there who we've supported and who can't afford anything at the moment, giving a testimony about their personal experience with us would also be a help.

"We can use those anecdotes to apply for more grant funding."

You can donate by visiting https://www.justgiving.com/rosalieryrie-foundationThe charity was founded in 2007 by Ann Ramsden, who named the Foundation after her own mother.

Many of the people who come through the doors of the centre are self-referred and their cases may not have been picked up social services, the police or the courts.

Support workers try to tackle the abuse head-on and at an early stage and include the whole family in the process, in a bid to prevent the situation deteriorating.

In a 2018 interview, Ann told how she and her staff offer both moral and practical help to entire families, including the perpetrators, afflicted by violence.

Explaining how they talk to perpetrators when they step through the door, Ann said: "We’re very frank. We don’t mess about. We don’t sit here going, “Oh bless you”.

"We know history's got a lot to with people's behaviour, but it can't be used as an excuse.

"But we're not here to condemn them for life. We don’t look at people as bad because of their behaviour, we concentrate on why their behaviour is bad.

"Domestic abuse isn't acceptable in any form, but at the end of the day that person that's doing it is somebody's mum, or dad, or sometimes child."

Local Democracy Reporting Service