Jane Dodds has asked the Welsh Government about the work it is doing to protect and look after victims of domestic violence in Powys.

The Mid and West Wales MS said at the Senedd that Montgomeryshire Family Crisis Centre does an “amazing job” in terms of protecting victims and survivors of domestic violence.

But she said that, sadly, they’ve had to look at the possibility of cutting five jobs.

Ms Dodds said: “In a rural area, that’s a huge impact. They deal day on day with, mostly, women who’ve come forward who are courageous and brave.

“I pay tribute to one brave woman who was sadly lost last week - Virginia Giuffre.

“She stood up to powerful and rich men in order to make sure that the voices of victims and survivors were heard.

“It’s an absolute tragedy that she took her own life after decades of pressure and stress - a woman of sublime courage.

“Every woman who comes forward has that courage, and we need to protect and support them.

“I’d like to make sure that services such as the Montgomeryshire Family Crisis Centre are protected in order to continue that service.”

The Trefnydd, Jane Hutt, thanked Ms Dodds for allowing the Chamber to hear and recognise the tragedy of Virginia Giuffre, which she said was “an absolute tragedy that she took her life after everything that she had suffered”.

Ms Hutt said: “This is linked to how do we in Wales, and as a Welsh Government, deliver and respond to violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence.

“Thank you for putting that in the context of Powys and the Montgomeryshire Family Crisis Centre, which does provide an indispensable service for families in the area.

“I was pleased that we’ve been able to recently offer additional revenue - I hope you’re aware of that - to the Montgomeryshire Family Crisis Centre.

“This is something where we have put more funding into VAWDASV services this year. Whenever I have the opportunity, we also look regionally and locally to where there is specific need.

“We’ve supported the crisis centre with capital grants over the past two years.

“The is part of the specialist sector across Wales that we support, in challenging financial times, ensuring that services are fully supported in the valuable work that they undertake.

“Thank you for bringing their valuable work in Montgomeryshire to our attention.”