Almost £19 million of funding to expand support for survivors of
domestic abuse services across the country has been launched
today (2 July 2018) by the Secretary of State for Communities.
Councils working in partnership with charities and other
organisations will be able to bid for a share of funding to
support survivors of domestic abuse.
This will be available for a wide range of services to help
survivors rebuild their lives; including the provision of refuge
beds, education, and employment and life skills training.
This funding builds on £20 million allocated in 2016 to 2018
which has helped provide more than 2,200 new bed spaces in
refuges and other specialist accommodation, supporting more than
19,000 survivors with a safe space to rebuild their lives.
Secretary of State for Communities, Rt Hon MP said:
Domestic abuse is a devastating crime and this government is
committed to ensuring all survivors have access to the support
they need, whenever they need it.
This funding will expand the support available for survivors to
help them rebuild their lives.
This fund has already helped to support diverse projects across
the country, including:
Lancashire County Council – Jane’s Place of Recovery Refuge
- Funding was used to establish ‘Jane’s Place’, to accommodate
46 residents, across 15 self contained flats. In the first 7
months the refuge, specialising in providing safe accommodation
for those at most risk of harm, accommodated 52 women and their
families.
The Hampshire Making Safe Scheme’, led by Hart District Council
- Covering 11 local authorities in Hampshire, this project aims
to fund 3 approaches including access to safe houses, enhanced
security measures within client’s own homes and effective ways
for life after living in safe houses or refuges. This project is
particularly targeted at those from BAME communities or those
with complex needs.
The government has also published updated guidelines, created in
partnership with experts for councils to share best practice with
charities and other organisations in meeting the needs of diverse
communities including BAME, disabled and LGBT victims.
Katie Ghose, Chief Executive of Women’s Aid, said:
The release of the next round of funding for refuges and other
accommodation for women escaping domestic abuse is desperately
needed, and much welcomed. Our national network of refuges not
only save lives but transform them, helping women and their
children to rebuild their lives.
With a decision about the future of refuge funding after 2020
due to be made in the coming months, we look forward to working
with the government to ensure the future safety of survivors.
Together we need to ensure that there is a sustainable,
long-term funding solution for all domestic abuse services,
including lifesaving refuges. Only then can we guarantee that
every survivor and her children can get the support they need
to build a life free from domestic abuse.
The 2015 Spending Review contained dedicated long term funding of
£40 million to support victims of domestic abuse.
-
The first allocations of the £20 million fund was announced
November 2016 led by local authorities working in partnership
with service providers for work in 2016 to 2018
-
A further £1.2 million will be allocated towards domestic
abuse services in due course
-
See the full list of
allocations
Further case studies of the 2016 to 2018 fund:
-
Royal London Borough of Greenwich - The Multiple Needs &
Intensive Support Project Greenwich used part of the funding
to employ a Complex Needs support worker, providing intensive
support to survivors across the lifetime of the project.
-
North Lincolnshire Council Grant funding was used to secure
additional resources to ensure that both female and male
victims of domestic abuse were able to access immediate
support at times of crisis.
Today’s announcement builds on steps taken by government to end
domestic abuse, support victims and ensure offenders are
prosecuted. Including:
- new powers and laws - a new domestic abuse offence to capture
coercive and controlling behaviour, the criminalisation of forced
marriage, and the introduction of new stalking laws
- the national roll-out of domestic violence protection orders
and the domestic violence disclosure scheme
- £15 million, 3-year Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)
Service Transformation Fund
- £3.5 million provided in 2015 that funded 46 successful bids
from around the country, providing 710 extra bed spaces
- £10 million funding announced by the coalition government for
strengthening provision of safe accommodation in the last
Spending Review period
- we will shortly be introducing a new landmark Domestic
Violence and Abuse Bill to protect and support victims, recognise
the life-long impact domestic abuse has on children and make sure
agencies effectively respond to domestic abuse
View the government’s updated priorities for
domestic abuse services.
