A charity that helps victims of violent crime could be forced to shut down due to lack of cash after recording one of its busiest years for dealing with sexual assaults.

And the Women's Resource Centre, which was inundated with victims of sexual and violent attacks in the run-up to Christmas, is now making an urgent appeal for cash, claiming its bank account is dry and long-term sponsorship is needed if it is to continue.

The charity has a monthly budget of $15,000 to find, but in December it was unable to meet its rent and staff wages.

Although its head is just above water now, Chairwoman Penny Dill said it was surviving hand to mouth and ideally needed a three to five-year commitment of corporate funding.

Mrs. Dill said: "Our resources have reached a point where we need more funding in order to be able to provide the services.

"We do have some support from the corporate community, but we need major funders who are prepared to commit for a longer period of time.

"We have high rent to pay because we need to be in the centre of Hamilton so we can be accessible to people, and charities also have to pay a payroll tax, all of which decreases our funds.

"We also need to attract and retain qualified, professional staff, which takes money -- they have to make a living also.

"We are struggling to meet our budget. We have had to really throw ourselves at the mercy of our long-suffering landlord Eddie DeMello. He had to go without rent in December.

"The paid staff also had to wait a few weeks longer to get their December wages. The pot is, quite simply, empty.'' Mrs. Dill said the charity had a particularly busy period in the run-up to Christmas following a rash of violent and sexual attacks on women.

Between the end of August and November more than a dozen incidents were reported to Police where women had fallen victim to violent crime.

And when the crime-rate goes up, so too, does the workload for the centre.

Mrs. Dill added that this year is also set to be a busy one. Already, in the first 11 days of the year, the centre has dealt with 15 complaints of domestic abuse. The total for the whole of January last year was 18, and in 1999, 19.

Mrs. Dill said: "We had a very busy period towards the end of last year, particularly with the number of victims of sexual assaults we were dealing with.

"It all takes its toll on our budget. These sorts of crimes are a drain on the community, and a drain on our finances.

"We provide a service to victims, not only counselling to help them get through the trauma, but also advice and guidance regarding any proceedings and identity parades that might follow, and much more besides.

"It's obvious that the more victims there are, the more work we have.'' The charity's lawyer, Susan Moore-Williams, said they were very grateful to those companies and individuals who donated cash, but wanted to appeal to others who did not.

And she said the resource centre provided a vital service to both men and women in the community who needed legal advice, counselling or guidance for a number of problems, including physical and emotional assaults, domestic violence, child sex abuse, and issues associated with marriage and relationships.

Mrs. Moore-Williams added: "In order to sustain our service, we need more money. Whatever impacts on the community impacts on us and the community cannot afford to lose this service.

"We know that we cannot provide every service that people need here, but we are able to hook them up with whomever or whatever they need. For people in need of help, that is vital.'' Last year the Women's Resource Centre dealt with 172 new cases, as opposed to 151 the year before.

The areas which recorded the largest increases were sexual assaults, which went from 12 in 1999, to 20 in 2000.

Marital and relationship problems, rose from 24 to 37 in the same period while the number of physical assaults went up from 40 to 46.

However, the number of clients with psychological or emotional problems decreased from 45 in 1999 to 28 last year.

Anyone who would like to offer financial support to the Resource Centre in Reid Street, Hamilton, should call on 295-3882.