The Mansfield and Ashfield Safety Centre (MASC) faces a funding gap of around £80,000 to continue beyond March because money from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust has come to an end.

The centre, which opened two years ago, is run by Mansfield and Ashfield Women's Aid at a location in Mansfield and gave advice and support to more than 200 women and children last year.

Karen Walker, domestic violence co-ordinator at Mansfield District Council, told Chad there would be a huge gap in services to victims if new funding could not be found.

She said: "It is incredibly stressful for the people working there and for all the agencies involved in domestic violence — it is the last thing we want to see.

"We are in the middle of producing a three-year strategy about domestic violence. If we lose the MASC we are not going to have the tools to support the victims."

Emotional

The centre gives women help with legal advice, safety, finances and housing as well as emotional support for them and their children.

Ms Walker says cash had been pledged from district and county councils from April and some funds may be awarded from grant-making organisation the Tudor Trust — but there will still be a significant shortfall.

A quarter of all violent crime in Mansfield and Ashfield is domestic violence and one in four women suffers from it at some point in their lives.

Ms Walker says that domestic violence often peaks on Valentine's Day, as well as at Christmas, because of jealousy and insecurity from partners and alcohol acting as a trigger.

• Anyone who is interested in making a donation to the centre should contact Karen Walker on Mansfield 463528.

For help with domestic violence, contact the national Women's Aid helpline on 0808 800 0340 or visit the Mansfield and Ashfield Women's Aid website at www.mawa.co.uk or the National Domestic Violence Forum website at www.ndvf.org.uk.