Hosting a fringe event at the Conservative Party conference, charity Women's Aid said ensuring there were specific child advocate and support services in refuges was a key step in preventing children returning to abusive situations.
Nicola Harwin, chief executive of the charity, said: "Independent advocates are essential, especially where there is a conflict of interest between the non-abusing adult and the child."
But Harwin said the current lack of state funding was putting these services at risk.
"Specialist services are continuously under threat," she said. "Most of our funding comes from Children in Need, which is not sustainable in the long term.
"In fact it is considering not continuing with funding because it says these are services that should be supported by the state."
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