The criminal justice umbrella body Clinks has taken over the women’s centre charity Women’s Breakout, with the loss of both permanent members of staff at the latter organisation.

Women’s Breakout, which was formed six years ago and had an income of £60,000 in the year to the end of March, approached Clinks about the merger because it was having financial difficulties and in an attempt to keep its women’s centres open, a spokeswoman said.

She said that the merger, which was completed today, meant the two permanent staff at Women’s Breakout would be made redundant when Clinks took over the charity’s services.

Clinks, which has 18 staff and had an income of £1.2m in the year to the end of March, will take on a Women’s Breakout trustee as part of the merger, according to the spokeswoman.

Women’s Breakout had no offices. Clinks will hold a consultation with Women’s Breakout members on whether to retain the charity’s branding.

Two years ago, Clinks released a report called The State of the Sector, which said there had been almost 400 redundancies among criminal justice charities between April 2012 and March 2015.

Dame Anne Owers, chair of Clinks, said it was crucial to keep women’s centres open.

“This merger will ensure that the work of Women’s Breakout will continue and we very much welcome Women’s Breakout members within Clinks,” she said.

Roma Hooper, chair of Women’s Breakout, said: “We are delighted we have secured its future within Clinks. We believe that the integrity of Clinks and its commitment to strengthening the work of Women’s Breakout will enhance the voice of our women’s centres and continue to support the work being undertaken.”