Asha Women's Centre, in Worcester, to shut following long struggle for funding

The Asha Women's Centre, which is run from an office in Checketts Lane, Worcester, will shut at the end of January – bringing to an end the vital support it provides to dozens of women.

Supporters have called news of the closure "desperate".

The community service, which costs between £300,000 and £350,000 to run each year, gives long-term help to women struggling with problems such as depression, domestic violence and financial problems.

In the past, it has received funding from sources including the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner's grant scheme, Worcestershire County Council, and the criminal justice system.

Marie Eastwood, chairman of the board, said: "It is absolutely desperate. We struggled and struggled to keep Asha going.

"It is extremely sad. It is with an enormous amount of regret, but we have just taken the decision that we have to come to the end of the line because we will run out of money by the end of January.

"We have been successful in obtaining grants, but grants will pay for specific pieces of work – they will not pay for the infrastructure for that work."

Mrs Eastwood added: "I went to talk to around 60 women [to tell them] and it was an awful experience.

"I had women just crying and saying, 'what are we going to do?'

"And the answer was I'm very sorry, we will try and do something but I can't promise you."

Asha, which runs its services from centres in the city, employs eight full-time staff, who will be made redundant, and supports between 80 and 100 women.

Lynne Fyfe, centre director, said: "The decision to close has not been easy.

"Asha has a very good reputation. We have lots of referrals, but people can't pay for the services because of the cutbacks.

"Some of the grant funding we have gone for, lots of other people are having to go for it now. It is a small, diminishing pool.

"We are absolutely gutted. We have a long, proud history."

Martin Lakeman, strategic co-ordinator for the Worcestershire Forums Against Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence, said: "I think it is a terribly sad loss for Worcestershire and women seeking help.

"The Asha centre is a fairly unique service because it is working with women moving on from lots of different circumstances.

"The bottom line is it is very sad that they can't sustain the funding to provide absolutely essential services to a whole range of women."

John Campion, the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner, has reassured the public that the "same level" of victim servies will be available following Asha's closure.

"Asha Women’s Centre was one of many projects who received funding through our grants scheme this year, which were agreed by the outgoing Commissioner," he said.

"I have continued to work with Asha since my election, offering help and support where appropriate, but unfortunately they were not able to deliver all that they wished to achieve.

"Recently, at Asha's suggestion, the funding from my office was reclaimed to be reallocated to another suitable initiative.

"I want to stress that the same level and range of victim services will still be available in our communities and I will continue to ensure services are maintained."

Worcester's MP for Robin Walker says the closure is "very sad".

"They have done a lot of good work over the years," he said

"We have to try and work with organisations like the Worcester Community Trust to see if what they have done can be replicated or other organisations nationally can be brought in."

Cllr Lucy Hodgson, cabinet member with responsibility for localism and communities at Worcestershire County Council, said: "We have previously funded Asha Women's Centre with a small amount of funding for the provision of bespoke adult learning classes only.

"We are very sorry to hear that Asha is closing, and would like to thank them for all their hard work supporting women in Worcestershire."