Life-saving domestic abuse services at a Crewe-based charity have been put at risk.

MyCWA (Cheshire Without Abuse) has issued a plea for support after confirming it will not receive funding from Cheshire East Council beyond April 2025.

As a result, the charity's support centre on Brook Street, which opened in 1977, and the Macclesfield store and community hub will be forced to close without urgent intervention.

Chief executive, Saskia Lightburn-Ritchie, said: "For almost 50 years, people have fled abuse and we'd be there waiting for them.

"Not just to keep them and their children safe, but to help them heal and break the cycle of abuse.

Chief executive Saskia Lightburn-Ritchie (Credit: MyCWA)

"I can't quite articulate how catastrophic the impact of this funding decision is going to be.

"It will be felt for generations to come."

MyCWA is one of the country's longest-serving domestic abuse charities.

The charity's 24/7 crisis helpline, emergency refuge accommodation, specialist trauma recovery programmes for children, community outreach services and survivor support groups are now all at risk.

Last year alone these services were used by almost 4,000 vulnerable adults and children.

"£500,000 would maintain these life-saving services for a year," Saskia added.

"Compare that to the £11 million spent on a struggling car park in Crewe - we must ask ourselves what price we put on human life."

MyCWA has launched an emergency appeal which can be found HERE. 

MyCWA's Macclesfield store (Credit: Studio One Photography)

Councillor Carol Bulman, chair of Cheshire East Council's children and families committee, explained that the council's budget for domestic abuse services will be the same in 2025/26 as it was in 2024/25.

"To enhance the quality of services, we are currently conducting a tender process to develop a strengthened service model, including expanded in-house provision," she said.

"Domestic abuse support charity MyCWA chose to withdraw from this process in December. 

"We commissioned MyCWA on a fixed-term contract to supplement our domestic abuse services until March 2025.

"As this contract is nearing its end, it does not require a formal notice of termination.

"The terms of the agreement clearly oblige the contract holder to provide an exit strategy to ensure the seamless transfer of services.

"MyCWA has not yet fulfilled this requirement or cooperated to provide reassurance about safeguarding the vulnerable adults and children currently in refuge under their care."

MyCWA offers a 24/7 helpine (Credit: PDR Photography)

Councillor Bulman continued: "While we recognise MyCWA played an important role, they were never tasked with delivering all domestic abuse-related services across Cheshire East.

"The council provides a robust suite of in-house services, including the Domestic Abuse Family Safety Unit, statutory children's services, and strong partnerships with Cheshire Police, housing providers and the voluntary sector.

"Together, these services ensure comprehensive, integrated support for children, young people, victims, and perpetrators of domestic abuse. 

"We remain committed to working closely with our partners to triage and deliver tailored services that address the complex needs of those affected.

"If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, help is available. Please contact the Cheshire East Domestic Abuse Hub on 0300 123 5101, or in an emergency, call 999." 

In response, Saskia said: "I need to correct several significant inaccuracies in Councillor Bulman's statement. Firstly, she states the council's budget for domestic abuse services will be the same in 2025/26 as it was in 2024/25 but fails to mention our funding was drastically reduced from £850,000 in 2022-23 to £390,000 for April 2024-March 2025; despite increased demand for services each year. To maintain essential services, we're currently contributing £354,000 from our charity reserves - an unsustainable situation we clearly communicated to the council.

"In regards to the tender, this was for refuge services only, and we were forced to remove ourselves given the proposed amount of £150,000 per year would not have even covered staffing cost. For perspective, in 2010, refuge provision - and for fewer spaces - was contracted at £330,000.

"She states we have 'not fulfilled the requirement of providing an exit strategy or cooperated to provide reassurance about safeguarding the vulnerable adults and children currently in refuge under their care'. This is untrue. We have in fact submitted an initial plan, but it cannot be finalised until we know where our current clients will be supported; and our repeated requests for meetings about future service provision have gone unanswered.

"The councillor promises a 'robust suite of in-house services' yet there is huge risk moving in-house to the council. As an example, while council offices closed its services over Christmas – including the teams managing domestic abuse cases - our dedicated team supported 700 people in crisis. This is the difference specialist domestic abuse support makes. Domestic abuse doesn't wait for office hours - and this is what we must protect.

"I invite Councillor Bulman to meet with us and hear directly from those who rely on our services. These are real lives at stake, and they deserve to be heard."

READ MORE: Extra visitor parking spaces to be made at Crewe hospital.

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