The stark reality of the cuts is that women and children fleeing abuse have fewer places to run to.

A new report from Women’s Aid, a national charity working to end domestic violence against women and children, shows the huge gap in funding for domestic violence (DV) services in the UK.

The results of their 2013 survey show the devastating effect of funding cuts to DV services across the UK. Over 150 organisations were surveyed; and 112 specialist posts were lost in 2012-13, the majority due to funding cuts.

And the stark reality of these cuts is that women and children fleeing abusive homes have fewer places to turn to; the survey looked at a ‘snapshot’ day in which 155 women and 103 children were turned away from refuges.

Polly Neate, chief executive for Women’s Aid said, “Specialist gender-specific domestic violence services are reaching a breaking point.

“Over 1.2 million women were estimated to have experienced domestic violence last year and two women a week are killed by perpetrators.”

In an open letter to Home Secretary, Theresa May, Neate urged the government to do more to support charities supporting the victims of domestic abuse

“A third of our providers are expecting to receive less money from Local Authorities this year – on top of already drastic cuts in the past few years,” Neate wrote.

“More women are seeking support from outreach services than before and more women with serious mental health support needs are approaching our services. The need for specialist services is growing, but provision is beginning to shrink to dangerous levels.”

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, told the Independent: “This report from Women’s Aid is a damning verdict on Theresa May’s lack of strategy for domestic violence victims, as specialist and community outreach services have been heavily cut back and Women’s Aid warn that more women are remaining in abusive situations as a result.”

The Home Office has responded, and talks about the £40million ring-fenced for tackling domestic abuse and the introduction of Clare’s Law, which will allow people to check the police records of their partners.

Despite these measures however, there clearly remains a huge shortfall in what is needed to enable these organisations to continue to help those who need it.

The survey results recorded that in 2012 an estimated 27,900 women were turned away from the first refuge they approached; 7,085 victims were turned away from non-refuge services.

Nicola Graham-Kevan, an expert in partner violence at the University of Central Lancashire, said: “In the economic downturn… you’re going to have increased family stress and joblessness, so you’d expect there would be an increase in need. Yet undoubtedly there’s been a decrease in funding because local authorities have had their budgets cut.”

An increase in need, coupled with a decrease in provision means that ultimately women who may be attempting to flee abusive relationships may well find themselves with nowhere to go, and a choice between homelessness or returning to an abusive partner.

Unfortunately this is yet another example of how the government cuts have disproportionately affected women, often those already vulnerable situations.

Just this week a group of smaller organisations working with the victims of DV have drawn attention to the difficulties created by the government’s changes to legal aid, which severely and unfairly reduce access to justice for victims of domestic violence.

Despite this government’s pledge to help end violence against women and girls, cuts have affected services across the board as a report commissioned by the Trust for London and Northern Rock Foundation showed last year.

Neate makes clear the Government’s role in leading the way in ensuring there is adequate provision for the increasing need of women andchildren escaping abusive households: “I must warn you that many services are now at breaking point.

“Unless the Government now takes a strong leadership role, many services will not survive.

As you know, specialist, gender-specific services are absolutely vital to women’s safety. Without them, women cannot be provided with the support they need to successfully rebuild their lives and live free from violence.”

The bottom line being that women’s lives are at risk because of these funding cuts.