AN organisation which helps the victims of domestic violence is celebrating a £72,160 windfall.

Craven Domestic Violence Service has been successful in securing a grant from the Big Lottery Fund.

It will be used to fund a volunteer co-ordinator to support the growing number of volunteers and an outreach worker, whose role will be to ensure Craven's black and ethnic minority community have access to the service.

The five-figure boost has delighted the organisation, which last year faced closure due to a lack of funding.

But support from the North Yorkshire County Council's second homes fund brought the service back from the brink and it was able to move into a new base during the summer.

Chairman Josh Sutton said the new premises had enabled CDVS to get back on its feet. The money for the two posts was the icing on the cake.

Mr Sutton said: "It's a real morale boost. The whole team is thrilled to bits about it. In some ways it's almost a reward for everybody's hard work over the past few months."

CDVS provides support for victims of domestic violence, be it physical, emotional, psychological, sexual or financial at the hands of someone with whom they have had or are having a relationship.

The organisation, which has four paid staff and eight volunteers, works closely with other bodies such as social services and the police.

Since July the organisation has helped 23 new clients and has seen a steady increase in calls from other agencies from three in July to 48 in December.

Anyone wishing to join the organisation's management committee can email staff on admin@cdvs.org. Craven Domestic Violence Service can be contacted on 01756 794400.