FOR the past 37 years, Fortalice Ltd has thrown a vital lifeline to sufferers of domestic abuse.

Its frontline services include a 22-bed refuge for women and children who are affected by, or who are fleeing, such abuse. The organisation, whose head office in Bolton, is widely recognised within the borough as the driving force behind services responding to domestic abuse.

At its inception, Fortalice was run entirely by volunteers. Although they still have a significant role within the organisation, the registered charity now employs a team of 28 full and part-time staff.

Over the years, growth and expansion has been funded through a variety of sources and Fortalice has a proven track record for being a robust, responsible organisation with a good infrastructure and sound financial acumen.

Additionally, it has developed its services and now delivers educational packages on healthy relationships and early intervention to 35 schools across Bolton. And Fortalice held the town’s first ever domestic abuse conference in conjunction with a number of secondary schools.

Currently, the charity is working to expand its early intervention projects in schools, colleges and in the local community and to secure funding to ensure all its existing services are able to continue and that new projects can be introduced.

Director of services Gill Smallwood said: “We believe we provide an excellent service for victims of domestic abuse and in the current climate it would be such an achievement if this was to be recognised. We have an excellent team who go the extra mile for all their service users.”