Shropshire awarded £45,000 to help ensure domestic abuse victims get the help they need
Shropshire Council, in partnership with local refuges that support victims of domestic violence and abuse, have today (Monday 14 December 2015) been given a share of a £3.5million Government grant to make sure that victims of domestic abuse get access to the support they need.
The council is one of 46 councils across the county getting a share of the fund. You can see the full list of funded organisations from across England here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/35-million-awarded-to-make-sure-domestic-abuse-victims-get-help.
The £45,156 funding will allow the partnership to develop an innovative approach that will see the Shropshire Community Mental Health Team work in partnership with Refuge and South Shropshire Domestic Violence Service to improve and develop the health sector response to women in rural locations in Shropshire who are experiencing domestic violence and abuse.
There will be a particular focus on improving the response to women with complex needs.
Successful bids range from specialist domestic abuse refuges for young women aged 16-25, to specialist training for domestic abuse advisers to cater for the specific needs of Britain’s Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities.
In Shropshire, the project will aim to improve the county’s response by developing pathways between specialist domestic violence services and universal services such as GPs, midwives, dentists, health visitors and community mental health teams. These agencies come into contact with women who may be experiencing domestic violence and abuse, and we want to ensure we get the response to women right first time.
Karen Calder, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for health, and Chair of Shropshire’s Health and Well-being Board, said:
“Domestic abuse is an issue for all of the Shropshire rural area, as well as urban area. If you feel isolated or endangered in your own home and you live in a rural community, help can feel a long way away. No one should have to live with or suffer domestic abuse, and the important and innovative work that this funding will support will have a positive impact on the lives of many victims.
“I am delighted we have been awarded this money, and it is a great credit to everyone involved that this funding has been secured for Shropshire.”
This funding boost in 2015/16 is in addition to the newly secured funding of £40million over the next four years to support victims of domestic violence, announced as part of the Spending Review.
Sandra Horley, CBE, chief executive of Refuge, said:
“Refuge is delighted to have been awarded this funding. On any given day Refuge supports 3,300 women and children across the country. Around 20% of women we work with tell our specialist team that they have alcohol, substance abuse and mental health issues as a result of domestic violence. This vital funding will enable Refuge to provide workshops to health professionals across Shropshire, whilst also enabling the team to work with a community mental health nurse. We look forward to delivering this important programme in 2016.”
Communities Minister Baroness Williams, with Home Office Minister Karen Bradley, has already led a review of services working with women’s domestic abuse charities, local authorities and other local service providers to gain a much clearer understanding of the range of challenges victims and services are facing.
Baroness Williams said:
“Domestic abuse is an appalling crime that shatters lives, and this Government is determined to ensure that no victim is turned away from the support they need.
“This new funding will help Shropshire Council and specialist charities provide a strong safety net for anyone facing the threat of abuse in their own home.”
“In the Spending Round we have also secured an additional £40m over the next four years – to make sure that victims can access support wherever they are from, anywhere in the country.
“We’ll set out how this money will be used for victims and areas that most need it with the publishing of the new Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy.”
Wendy Bulman, Manager of South Shropshire Domestic Violence Service, said:
“I am really pleased to hear Shropshire has been successful in this bid. We want victims of domestic and sexual abuse to come forward and access the support that is out there for them. Ultimately, helping them and their children lead lives free from all forms of abuse.”
If you are concerned about domestic abuse and need advice, please call the National Domestic Violence 24-hour Helpline or West Mercia Women’s Aid Domestic Violence 24-hour Helpline on 0800 783 1359, or in an emergency dial 999.
Further information can be found on the Freedom Shropshire website at http://www.freedomshropshire.org.uk.
Further information
Shropshire Council works with Refuge and South Shropshire Housing Association to deliver specialist domestic violence accommodation services. Domestic violence and abuse is a priority for the Safer Shropshire Stronger Communities Partnership.
Safer Shropshire’s Countywide Domestic Abuse Forum is a multi-agency partnership that brings together a range of partner organisations to tackle domestic violence and abuse. It includes ‘specialist’ domestic abuse services: Refuge; South Shropshire Domestic Violence Services; West Mercia Women’s Aid; Shropshire Council services including housing support services, safeguarding, education, children’s centre services, community safety; West Mercia Police; Shropshire Fire and Rescue; and Community Health.
Shropshire Council is one of 46 councils across the county getting a share of the fund. This will mean that there will now be 710 new bed spaces in a range of safe accommodation providing shelter to victims of domestic abuse across the country.
With successful bids from every corner of England – from Plymouth to Gateshead –the extra money will also mean that a range of services will now be offered to victims across the country.
Successful bids range from specialist domestic abuse refuges for young women aged 16-25 to specialist training for domestic abuse advisors to cater for the specific needs of Britain’s Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities.
This funding boost in 2015/16 is in addition to the newly secured funding of £40million over the next four years to support victims of domestic violence, announced as part of the Spending Review.
Also announced at the Summer Budget was a review of the full range of services currently available to victims of domestic abuse.
Its findings fed into the Spending Review and will inform an updated Violence Against Women and Girls strategy to ensure that victims of domestic violence and their families have access to the support and services they need to keep safe.
The Budget Statement announced a total additional funding of £3.2 million for victims of domestic abuse, made up of: £3.07 million for the Domestic Abuse Fund in 2015 to 2016 and £131,000 in 2015 to 2016 for additional workers for the UK Refuges Online. We have received a large number of high quality bids and managed to allocate a further £470k to support them, bringing the total spent on the bids to £3.54m.
As well as the additional funding, domestic abuse is a major priority for the government’s Troubled Families programme. The focus on tackling domestic violence and abuse has been increased in the new expanded programme.
Last year the coalition government announced a new £10 million Government fund to help support refuges across the country and boost provision for vulnerable victims of domestic violence.
This built on steps taken by the Government to end domestic violence, support victims and ensure offenders are prosecuted. These include:
- £40 million for Violence Against Women and Girls support services and specialist helplines
- new laws and powers – including 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 rollout of domestic violence protection orders and the domestic violence disclosure scheme.
