Cash boost for battle to stop abuse; CHARITY: pounds 400,000 to target violence offenders.

Byline: Emma Stone

A WARWICKSHIRE charity will be tackling domestic violence in the county by targeting those who commit the abuse.

The Domestic Abuse Counselling Service, based in Nuneaton, has announced it will be extending its work with the perpetrators of violence after receiving a grant of more than pounds 400,000 from the Big Lottery Fund.

The charity's aim is to work with both men and women who have accepted their behaviour is a problem in a bid to break the cycle of violence.

Kate Farmer, charity spokesman, said: "Our services are for men and woman and those in same sex relationships.

"We are looking for self-referrals - they are the ones who have made a commitment to change their behaviour.

"We have always worked with victims and we always will but we also need to work with perpetrators to break the cycle.

"We can get victims away from the abuser and set them on the road to recovery but the abuser will go on to another relationship and will abuse again.

"The children from the previous relationship may also have visitation rights." The grant will be used by the charity to rent further premises across Warwickshire in an effort to reach more people.

Prior to the grant, the service had only been able to offer its work with perpetrators on a paid for basis.

Now counselling sessions and workshops will be offered for free.

The work will take place alongside the charity's ongoing work with the victims of domestic abuse.

To contact the charity's counsellors call 0845 0044075 to make an appointment..