A charity that has been supporting domestic and sexual abuse survivors in Sheffield for the last 30 years is to close amid ‘ongoing challenges in securing sustainable long-term funding.

Vida has said it will close at the end of August. Until then it is not accepting new referrals and is to focus on “supporting existing clients and completing a safe and responsible wind-down process".

The charity offers support to those experiencing abuse, coercive control, sexual violence and other traumatic experiences through counselling and peer support working in partnership with the NHS and other partners.

Its chair Dr Marilyn Gregory said: “While this is an incredibly difficult decision, we are deeply proud of what Vida has achieved over the past 30 years.

“We want to thank our staff team, associates, volunteers, funders, clinical partners and the wider Sheffield community for the care, commitment and belief they have shown throughout the life of the organisation.

“More importantly we want to acknowledge the courage of the women who have accessed the service over many years.

“It has been a privilege to walk alongside them in their recovery journeys.”

The charity added on its Facebook page that “over the coming weeks, we will also be sharing memories, reflections and celebrating the impact Vida has had over the past 30 years”.

Vida launched during the 1990s as the Sheffield Domestic Violence Forum.

Two years ago, it launched a petition calling on Sheffield City Council to provide emergency funding to ensure it could continue to operate amid funding cuts. This received more than 27,000 signatures.

Between the financial years ending March 2023 and March 2024 the charity’s income dipped from £214,130k to £151,130. The last time it received public funding was between 2021 and 2023, when its income from government grants totalled £119,760.

Its income had increased to £230,520 in the 12 months to March 2025, its financial information on the Register of Charities shows.

Its latest submitted accounts also show that during 2024/5 it had seven part time staff and its therapy services was supported by a team of around 15 to 20 volunteers.

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