Pride and sadness as domestic abuse charity closes
Vida, a domestic abuse charity based in Sheffield, has closed this summer due to a funding crisis after more than 30 years of operation. The organisation, which began as the Sheffield Domestic Violence Forum in the mid-1990s, lost its primary income source when it failed to secure new National Lottery funding and Sheffield City Council was unable to commit additional support. The closure represents a significant loss of specialist expertise and accredited services in the city's support provision for domestic abuse survivors.
At the time of closure, Vida was operating with six part-time staff and volunteers, managing approximately 200 referrals annually and actively supporting 60 women. The charity required ยฃ250,000 per year to function. Chief executive Karen Hague expressed mixed emotions about the closure, describing herself as "bereft" whilst acknowledging pride in three decades of work. Survivors have left testimonies on the organisation's website expressing gratitude, with one stating the charity "saved my life" and another noting it "helped me through so much where other services failed". Hague warned that other charities face similar financial pressures and that once services close, the accumulated expertise and credibility they built up over decades cannot easily be recovered.
- Domestic abuse charity in Sheffield closes after 30 years due to funding crisis
- Served 200 referrals yearly; supported 60 women before summer 2024 shutdown
- Survivors praised its impact; CEO warns expertise lost permanently when services close