Community Minister Wayne Scott is to meet with staff from the cash-strapped Centre Against Abuse next week to discuss their plight.

And Shadow Health Minister Kim Wilson yesterday vowed to do “whatever I can to help” and is personally organising a fundraiser.

The charity has been forced to shut its shelter for women and children fleeing domestic violence — the only such facility in Bermuda.

Executive director Laurie Shiell and board chairwoman Lorna Dixon-Marable told The Royal Gazette last week that the Centre itself may also have to close unless they raised desperately needed funds.

Donations have since come in from concerned residents and businesses keen to save the shelter.

Mr Scott, Minister of Community, Culture and Sports, is due to meet with Centre staff on Wednesday, Ms Shiell said.

“There’s a tentative meeting, I’ll confirm next week,” she said. “The Permanent Secretary called on Thursday saying the Minister would like to get together.

“I’m praying it’s going to be a positive meeting.”

A Ministry spokeswoman said Mr Scott “intends to meet with the relevant stakeholders to discuss a way forward”.

“The Ministry is aware of the financial situation that the Centre Against Abuse currently finds itself in,” the spokeswoman added.

Shadow Health Minister Kim Wilson yesterday reaffirmed her support to efforts to save the shelter.

Ms Wilson issued a statement on Thursday night calling on Government to provide the Centre with much-needed resources and said a Gender Affairs Office was needed to support the victims of domestic violence.

She told The Royal Gazette yesterday that saving the shelter and supporting the Centre, which has been open for 35 years, was a cause close to her heart.

“I’ve already reached out and committed to do what I can to help,” Ms Wilson said. “I’ve spoken to family and friends and said, ‘let’s do something to help to save the Centre’.

“I’m going to do a fundraiser with a number of women. It’s distressing there’s no shelter.

“It’s a hard enough decision for women to make to leave an abusive partner. ‘I love him’, they say, but they have to go for their own safety.

“They need to leave and take the children but may not have anywhere else to go. Just one night in a shelter can make a difference, it could save a life.

“When you meet these women and hear their stories, to think that they now don’t have a safe place to go ... we need to find a solution.”

Ms Wilson said trailblazing businesswoman and charity worker June Augustus — the former chief executive of the Centre when it was the Physical Abuse Centre — would be “turning in her grave” at the closure of the shelter.

“I remember like it was yesterday, her standing on Parliament Street getting people to donate towels and sheets for the safe house,” she said. “I donated sheets and pillowcases.”

Ms Wilson has continued to support the Centre and has done pro bono work helping women to obtain Domestic Violence Orders against abusive partners.

“Applying to the court, that process could be a couple of days,” she said. “Where does that individual go in the meantime with no shelter?”

“Other family members might not want to get involved. Domestic violence is still a taboo and people don’t want to speak about it.”

Ms Wilson said “domestic violence is a health issue and the consequences are not just physical”, and called for a Gender Affairs Office to help support victims.

This body would partner with organisations such as the Centre and provide funding and support.

“It frightens me that in this jurisdiction there’s one shelter and the prospect of it closing for good is right there,” she said.

“I would hope the Government would see the need for such a continuing service in our community, and would consider the establishment of a Gender Affairs Office to raise gender awareness issues for men and women.”

Ms Wilson also pledged to attend a gathering in support of helping the Centre planned for East Broadway on September 30, from 7.45-8.30am.

Members of the public are urged to come along to the event and join a human chain with signs to “save the shelter”.