THE West Dorset Women’s Refuge is set to receive £3,000 from the Lloyds Bank Community Fund this year.

Nine other groups in Dorset will also receive the same funding including two from North Dorset and Purbeck, the 1st Lytchett Minster Scout Group and the Milborne St Andrew mini soccer football club.

In West Dorset, the Dorset Parent Carer Council will be given £3,000 as well as the refuge.

Two community groups in East Dorset, another two in South East Dorset and two in Poole will also receive funding.

Molly Rennie, chairman of the West Dorset Women’s Refuge, said: “We’re over the moon – £3,000 is an amazing amount of money and vital funding for us to continue our services.

“Community groups have to be nominated by staff at Lloyds themselves and the Dorchester bank branch nominated the refuge, which is fantastic.

“The awareness raised for the refuge by the community fund is worth as much as the money in my eyes.

“I want to say a massive thank you to everyone who voted. It shows what fabulous support for the Women’s Refuge we have in the community.”

She added that the money raised would go towards services for the refuge, such as 12-week courses to help those at the refuge move on from domestic violence relationships.

A total of 20 good causes were shortlisted throughout the South West and 172,469 public votes were cast overall in the region.

Graham Lindsay, group director for responsible business at Lloyds Banking Group, said: “Lloyds Bank scaled up the Community Fund considerably this year and we’ve had an incredible response from the public. Congratulations to every community group that took part, we look forward to hearing about the difference being involved in the programme has made."

As a result of the fund’s success this year, Lloyds Bank will continue the Community Fund in 2014.

For more details on the fund visit lloydsbank.com/communityfund For more details on the refuge call 01305 262444.