Two organisations in south Bristol which help hundreds of domestic abuse victims every year are under threat due to a funding crisis.

The Knowle West Domestic Abuse Project and Hartcliffe-based WISH, Women Involved in Self Help, were both funded by Neighbourhood Renewal money, which has come to an end.

They received transitional funding for a year but that will run out in September.

Without new sources of money the schemes will fold.

The Knowle West Domestic Abuse Project was created by the Knowle West Health Association in May 2004.

Two full-time case workers, Karen Coward and Emma Priddle, were appointed and last year helped 179 victims of domestic violence.

Karen, who cannot be pictured because of the risk of retribution by aggrieved partners of the women they have helped, said: "A lot of our clients don't want to go through the criminal justice system.

"We help them with civil injunctions to keep violent former partners away from them and we give emotional support and empower people to move on from abusive relationships."

Karen and Emma also act as independent domestic violence advisors, there are two more with WISH and two others with a Bristol organisation called Next Link.

Since April this year there has been a special domestic violence court held two days a week at Bristol Magistrates' Court.

Independent domestic violence advisors have to be available when cases are heard and if the four based in south Bristol can no longer be funded, it could put cases at risk.

The uncertain future means the Knowle West Domestic Abuse Project cannot expand as it would like. Karen said: "We would love to be able to employ a children's worker but we don't have enough money to do that.

"We would also like to take on some more volunteers but we cannot train new ones at the moment."

Inspections of the service in 2005 and 2007 showed the project was both value for money and saving money for the city council.

And the need for the service is increasing.

Karen said: "We are definitely busier than usual. I don't know if it's the credit crunch causing more money worries that's creating tension between couples, but more people are coming to see us.

In February the project will publish a book written by 12 survivors of domestic violence to show that it is possible to go on to lead a happy and successful life.

WISH was created in 2003 by seven local women who decided to set up a support group for victims of domestic violence.

In nine months alone they helped 129 families and have been credited with saving lives.

They help women maintain their tenancies and support them in their homes.