A CHARITY that helps women in York move on from domestic abuse is asking for the public’s help for the first time.

Kyra is a project based in St Saviourgate, and works with professional lawyers, therapists, financial advisors and others - all of whom give their time for free or at a greatly discounted rate - to help women who have left abusive relationships.

The charity has previously run on grants and donations, but is now appealing to organisations and individuals around the city to help raise about £54,000 a year to cover running costs and rent.

The move comes after one woman who has benefitted from Kyra raised funds for the charity.

Heather - who asked us not to use her surname - is 34 and from Pocklington, and began visiting Kyra when she left an abusive relationship. Earlier this month, she became the first member of the public to raise money for Kyra, by running in a 10 mile race and raising more than £400, which will pay for a year’s worth of self-esteem courses.

She said: “That money I’ve raised is going to help 30-odd women to go through these programmes, so I think it’s just fantastic. You can see where the money’s going and you can see it’s making a difference to the whole community as well, and the knock-on effect that it has is incredible.”

The charity is urging businesses and organisations around the city to find out more about how they can help Kyra, and has broken down the annual costs of some of the services it offers to help groups select causes they wish to support - from £115 for legal advice, £700 for a drama group, £1,014 for assertiveness courses, £1,650 for counselling, and £2,907 for a stress management course.

Alison Bolton, one of more than 50 volunteers with the Kyra project, said Heather was the first person to run specifically to raise money for the charity.

She said: “I’m particularly delighted that she has because we need all the help that we can get in order to carry on providing the services we do.

“Our appeal today would be to ask people to invite us into their organisations, let us tell you about all the work Kyra does for women in York, and let us show you how you can help us continue to provide all the services and products that we do to support vulnerable and isolated women in York.”

To find out more about Kyra, including how to donate or participate, go to kyra.org.uk.