A CHARITY is celebrating a £30,000 windfall that may have saved it – and its plans to help children affected by domestic violence.

Julie Johns from the Butterfly Foundation said: “The money was really important – it really meant whether we would have continued or not.”

The Bournemouth charity helps women fleeing violent partners but has started new courses to help children.

Julie, the creative director, said it had won £20,000 from Lloyds TSB and £10,000 from the lottery.

The cash would mainly pay off the core costs like utility bills and room hire.

The money is especially welcome as a major £204,000 grant from one of the Big Lottery funds is just coming to an end.

She said: “The charity has grown really quickly and this new money will allow us to carry on our work.

“We could easily run – if we had the funds – programmes right across Bournemouth Poole and Christchurch.”

The Foundation, at the Bourne Spring Centre in Springbourne, has 250 members.

It runs courses to help women spot the signs of abusive partners and overcome their experiences.

In the last year it has started three children’s programmes and has just completed a week long project on Turlin Moor in Poole.

Julie said: “The need was identified from members themselves – they would come in and say ‘My four-year-old is really struggling with what he has seen and what is going on’.”

She also said there had been 'definite' increase in people seeking help during the recession.