A domestic abuse charity has received a £20,000 grant from NatWest to fund its work in North Powys.

Montgomeryshire Family Crisis Centre, which supports women, men, and children, aims to reduce the risk of domestic abuse through its specialist support and guidance.

It has been working with NatWest to offer new opportunities to help build independence among its service users.

The charity was introduced to NatWest by one of the bank’s colleagues, Natalie Davies, who turned to the service after experiencing domestic abuse herself.

Ms Davies spoke with her team at NatWest to see how they could help.

The collaboration hopes to encourage the entrepreneurial spirit of the women who use the crisis centre by providing them with free financial capability training.

Through peer groups, the charity is able to support women starting a small business, offering advice on how to develop their initiative alongside protection from their current situation, with the aim of growing their confidence and achieving financial freedom.

Helen Dudley, company secretary at Montgomeryshire Family Crisis Centre, said: "For the centre, the grant from NatWest and their offer of free support are not just generous contributions — they are lifelines.

"This funding will enable us to extend our services and reach even more individuals in need, providing them with the critical support and resources to rebuild their lives.

"We have seen huge increases in both women and men using the services recently, highlighting the continued importance of funding from organisations to allow us to provide the services we do.

"NatWest's support of the charity has made a huge difference in the community and it’s incredible to see the impact entrepreneurial encouragement has on the women we are working with."

NatWest is also offering free mentorship from its senior leadership team to help the charity become more self-sufficient.

Ms Davies said: "Having personally experienced the devastating impact of domestic abuse and the vital support Montgomeryshire Family Crisis Centre offers, I cannot express enough how significant NatWest’s grant and continuous support is.

"NatWest’s commitment to this cause demonstrates our dedication to fostering safe and supportive communities, and I am incredibly proud to be part of an organisation that takes such meaningful action.

"Support is available at NatWest’s safe spaces in branches across the UK, for individuals who are concerned about their safety to access a designated private room and assistance from branch colleagues."

Further information on the support provided by Montgomeryshire Family Crisis Centre is available at familycrisis.co.uk