A WOMAN who was hospitalised more than ten times by her partner believes she would be dead without the help of Women's Aid.

Natalie [not her real name] endured six years of abuse at the hands of her partner, who used knives and bottles to attack her.

He also used his fists when he got angry, had been drinking or when they argued about money.

Over the years, Natalie, 35, had her ribs and arms broken and her head smashed.

"It started with verbal abuse after about two months," said Natalie.

"I got a few slaps around the head and then he started spitting on me, then all the punches and kicks and knives and bottles came in.

"The problem is, when you are in a domestic violence relationship, you always hope that the man will change, they are always sorry afterwards.

"When he said he wouldn't do it again, I didn't 100% believe him, I just hoped.

"You meet them and you start off with confidence but, after a while, they drag you down and make you think that you are no good and can't be with anyone else."

Natalie had to send her 13-year-old son back to his father – a loss she found hard to deal with.

She finally got the confidence to leave her partner after contacting Women's Aid. They gave her advice and a place in a refuge so that she could flee her violent partner.

Today, Women's Aid Integrated Services celebrates 30 years of providing domestic abuse services in Notts, as well as the launch of it new website and some new services for next year.

The event marks the renaming of the centre, which was previously known as Women's Aid Advice Centre, and the joining up of Women's Aid with two refuges earlier this year to provide women like Natalie with a safe place to go.

Natalie also worked as a prostitute during the relationship and said a lot of the arguments between her and her ex-partner where when he got angry about money.

She said: "After all those years, I thought 'I have a son', me and my son just couldn't take it any more.

"Too much was too much and that's why I contacted Women's Aid.

"At the refuge, we all have key workers, you can have a one-to-one if you are feeling depressed, they help to get you a house and help with benefits.

"If it wasn't for Women's Aid, I would probably be dead. I was nearly killed a couple of times.

"If I didn't have the refuge and the support, I don't know where I would be. They do everything, housing, making sure you are getting the right money, helping you with counselling and emotional support."

Natalie said work with Prostitution Outreach Workers (POW) and her key worker through Women's Aid has convinced her to leave prostitution. In the future she would like to work with other women who have been abused.

Women's Aid employs 55 members of staff and also has volunteers. Its services include a 24-hour helpline, outreach services, children's services and refuges and advice about how to contact solicitors.

It has also recently launched Safeguarding Children, a project that works with women and children who experience domestic violence – statistics show that 87% of children who live with domestic violence experience it.

Chris Cutland, chief executive of Women's Aid, said: "It is an organisation run by women for women that helps to support women and children who experience domestic violence.

"I think before there was a feeling that children were resilient, but it's recognised more and more that children who have experienced domestic violence are affected.

"They might not attend school because they are trying to protect their mother; it can affect their mental health, to bed wetting, to them not making friends.

"On average, women leave seven times before they actually leave. It's a big step.

"We don't tell them what to do, we go through their options."

Next month, an extra staff member will be employed on a 24-hour helpline because more calls are being received at weekends. There will also be a weekend drop-in centre for victims.

The helpline is 0808 800 0340 and website www.wais.org.uk

claire.carter@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk