A REFUGE for victims of domestic abuse in Newport could lose its children's worker as funding for her post runs out.

Deborah Wheeler supports families staying with Women's Aid in the city by organising day trips and activities for children whose mothers have escaped abusive relationships.

Colleagues say families in the refuge rely on her for vital emotional and practical support, but the three-year lottery grant currently paying for her child welfare coordinator post expires in six weeks' time.

"We've applied to Children in Need for another three years of funding, and they will let us know of their decision by April," said Mrs Wheeler, 38. However, if the application is rejected, she could lose her job as child welfare coordinator.

"I can't plan for the future because I don't know if I'll be here in six months' time; I've been losing sleep over this," she added.

"I'm having to search for funding for my own job and look after the children at the same time. I'm quite daunted by it all."

Karen Parsons, a refuge support worker at Women's Aid, said: "A lot of the children are in emotional distress when they enter the refuge. Their mums are busy working through their own problems and Deborah really helps add stability to the children's lives.

"They will really miss her if she goes, and there will be no one to replace her."

In addition to organising play activities, Mrs Wheeler provides guidance to women in the refuge concerning positive parenting and also refers children to a specialist counsellor where necessary.

Although another children's worker based in a second Women's Aid refuge in Newport receives core funding from the city council, Mrs Wheeler's post does not.