A £10 million government fund will help support refuges across the country and boost provision for vulnerable victims of domestic violence and their families.
As the world marks International Women’s Day, mind the government announced the 148 councils that will receive a share of the funding over the next 2 years, to support refuges in their area.
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said councils owe a clear duty to vulnerable victims who flee their homes, and that today’s funding will help ensure they offer help to keep victims and their children safe.
The funding will both keep refuges open, and improve standards in existing refuges, maintaining a strong national network offering support to women at risk.
Safe support for victims of domestic violence
A victim of domestic violence will attempt to flee the perpetrator an average 50 times before they are successful.
The £10 million fund will ensure councils offer more than bricks and mortar – support at the refuges will also include counselling and support for both adult and child victims, advice on healthy relationships, and help with training and employment to help maximise their stability and independence.
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said:
We are determined to ensure there is a strong safety net for anyone facing the frightening threat of violence in their own home.
Today’s £10 million funding will ensure we maintain a national network of refuges so any woman facing the threat of domestic violence anywhere in the country has somewhere to turn.
Polly Neate, Chief Executive at Women’s Aid, said:
We warmly welcome the news that specialist domestic violence refuges in 148 local areas will receive additional funding. Women and their children across the country will benefit from this, and know that there is a safe space for them if they need it.
We are pleased the government listened to our SOS campaign and saved these services. It is essential this money is spent properly on specialist refuges, and we will be monitoring how the fund is being spent to ensure this happens.
Today, the government also confirmed ongoing funding for UKRefugesOnline, a UK-wide service offering a detailed database of available bed spaces across the country, that helps victims of domestic abuse find the safety and support they need when they need it.