A DOMESTIC abuse charity is in with a chance of winning a national award after being selected as the regional winner of the Championing Change Award.

My Sisters Place received a prize of £1,000 and will now compete against charities from across England and Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands for six overall prizes which will be announced at the UK Final awards ceremony on October 8.

The Lloyds TSB Charity Achievement Awards have been created to recognise the life changing work of small and medium sized charities, with My Sisters Place won the Championing Change Awards in the North-East.

My Sisters Place has been nationally recognised by its success in implementing a 12-month pilot project to improving safety and reducing further harm to victims of domestic abuse.

The Middlesbrough based charity worked with the local Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) to reduce a consistently high repeat victimisation rate of more than 50 per cent - set against a national benchmark of 40 per cent for very high risk cases.

By working to together and focussing closely on the most challenging cases the pilot succeeded in reducing the rate of repeat victimisation to below 40 per cent, and their model has had an impact on national policy and helped shape future practice across the country.

Becky Rogerson, the charity's chief officer, said: “We are delighted to have won the championing change award for the North-East, as a small charity on Teesside we aim to make a big difference in tackling domestic abuse and strongly believe that listening to our clients experience is vital in championing change.

"The AIM (An Integrated Model) Pilot was an important project in highlighting the skills, knowledge and expertise the North-East has to offer in shaping the future of services where issues such as Violence Against Women and Girls are concerned. We will continue to work with our partners locally, regionally and nationally to continuously improve responses for victims of domestic abuse, their children and family.”

Chief executive of the Foundation, Paul Streets OBE, said: "My Sisters Place has demonstrated excellent and inspiring practice, and have set the standard high - not just surviving in these tough times, but thriving, delivering vital services and literally transforming lives."

For more information about the charity visit mysistersplace.org.uk