Three physical abuse centres are combining forces to provide expanded services for victims and unite fund-raising efforts.

The Physical Abuse Centre, the Coalition for the Protection of Children, and the Institute for Child and Family Health will come together under the umbrella of the "Consolidated Fund'' to provide a "continuum of services for the prevention, intervention and treatment for individuals and families affected by violence''.

The announcement by the Coalition for the Protection of Children came following last week's "Blow the Whistle on Violence'' conference.

The newly-formed coalition aims to provide a number of additional services if fund-raising objectives are met. These include: An additional safe house for women and children Peer mediation for all schools in Bermuda Mediation and conflict resolution programmes for parents and parent teacher associations Anger management programmes for violent offenders Residential and outpatient treatment centre for drug involved adolescents A specialised programme for disruptive or violent students involving anger management, conflict resolution and family therapy Short-term housing assistance for women and their children who cannot afford to leave abusive relationships, and Funding for projects that provide a safe house offering safety, counselling and shelter for adolescents.

At present, the three organisations combined provide safe shelter for women and children, treatment, counselling and legal services to victims of abuse, and peer mediation programmes.

Coalition for the Protection of Children spokeswoman Mrs. Sheelagh Cooper admitted the three decided to make the announcement while public awareness is running high following last week's conference.

"We had been discussing it for a while,'' she said. "We made the decision to do it before the conference. It will be a consolidated fund to jointly work together and fund-raise.'' The Consolidated Fund is launching its first united fund raising effort on March 6 with a telethon to be aired on VSB between 8 and 10 p.m.

The fund is urging members of the public to lend its support in gathering pledges from friends and co-workers. Would-be volunteers are asked to call 295-1150.