A VITAL service which has helped more than 200 victims of domestic violence in Sandwell will continue to support women after extra cash was found to keep it running – but only for the time being.

Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospital Trust, which runs Rowley Regis Hospital, says it is seeking ways to maintain its Independent Domestic Violence Advisors project which helps patients escape from abuse.

The service is run in partnership with Black Country Women’s Aid and, after funding ran out earlier this year, the trust stepped in and allocated £45,000 from its own charity it to keep it going in the interim.

A report to the trust board in February warned that unless additional money could be found, the service would closed at the end of this month.

With only two weeks to go, the trust has now announced the service will continue while it searches for long-term funding.

Toby Lewis, chief executive of the trust, said: “In 2015, the trust charity was able to award a large grant to fund a service in partnership with Black Country Women’s Aid that provides specialist advice and support to people who are either at risk of, or have experienced, domestic violence.

“There have been over 200 formal referrals to the IDVAs during 2017-2018. In January the trust charity awarded an additional amount to extend the service for a further six months and we have recently secured almost £30,000 from the Safer Sandwell Partnership so that this vital service can continue for an interim period.

“We continue to engage with partner organisations to identify how this important and valued service can be sustained.

“This is part of how we provide care to the local community and change from being a traditional hospital to an integrated provider of health and wellbeing.”