A DOMESTIC violence charity, which helps safeguard more than 500 battered women and children each year, has been saved from closure.

The Star centre has won a £500,000 cash injection after financial problems threatened the much-needed centre with closure.

Project manager Debra Molyneaux said: “For the past 22 months, the centre has had major funding problems and has just been hanging on by a thread.

“Without this grant, the centre would have closed without a doubt.

“Domestic violence is clearly an issue in Rossendale and figures show it is increasing year upon year.

“This could be put down to the pressures of the recession and increased home drinking.

"It is so wonderful that we can now launch the STAR Centres' SPACE Project and means we can guarantee a holistic and tailored support service for the next five years.

"We also now have secured a base on which we can build and develop services in order to break the cyclic nature of abuse and help individuals recover, progress and realise their potential.

"Thank you so much Big Lottery Fund." The vital centre, which has helped 270 women and 257 children in the past year, opened in 1996.

Bosses behind the centre, based in Rawtenstall, said they were ‘relieved’ to win the grant from the Big Lottery Fund, which will be paid over the next five years.

Specialist risk assessors visit the homes of domestic violence victims and evaluate the risk to their safety, and make decisions over which procedures to follow.

The charity then fits extra security measures, which range from new locks, to panic buttons in extreme cases.

The scheme offers a ‘one-stop shop’ of advice, guidance, and therapeutic activities, helping victims learn coping strategies to overcome trauma, and new skills to help improve their lives and general well-being.

Parenting support groups, counselling and personal development courses, such as self-defence and IT, will also be offered.