The domestic abuse charity DASH has received a helping hand - from housebuilders CALA.

DASH is based in Slough and is a grassroots charity which has served the local community for over 40 years. It aims to help families who have experienced domestic abuse and has developed a range of specialist interventions to provide safety, sanctuary and a brighter future for those who reach out for support. It provides a helpline, refuge, community support and a designated children’s team, as well as free legal, housing and financial advice and support through the Criminal and Civil Justice system.

CALA Homes (Chiltern) launched its Community Bursary in Maidenhead in February and invited organisations, charities and groups in the area to apply for a share of £2,000 to help fund projects that make a difference in the community.

The DASH Charity was chosen as a recipient of the bursary, with the £500 presented going towards funding the continuous hard work aiding those victims who have suffered domestic abuse.

This year, the Community Bursary Scheme has awarded a total of £109,000 to 117 good causes across the UK. A further 200 causes have previously benefitted from the scheme, with over £200,000 awarded to various initiatives since 2017.

Caron Kipping, community engagement manager at The DASH Charity, said: “We’re delighted to have received such a generous donation from CALA Homes, which will go towards funding to continuation of our helpline – the very first port of call for those reaching out to us for help. Callers to our helpline may be in crisis or have a very small window of opportunity to escape to a place of safety, so it’s an extremely important part of what we do.

“In the future we would like to create a Community Hub where members of the public can find us easily and drop in for advice and support, enabling them to access our services face to face and where they can receive ongoing emotional support to help them in their recovery.”