- South Derbyshire to receive £32,752 to help fund a new duty to ensure victims and their children are able to access life-saving support in safe accommodation.
- A total of £125 million has been allocated to councils across England to support domestic abuse victims and their children.
- This new funding is part of the Conservative Government’s landmark Domestic Abuse Bill and package of comprehensive support for victims.
The Conservative government is committed to helping domestic abuse victims and their families, in the last election we made a commitment to introduce a new duty of care. Councils will be required to provide support to domestic abuse victims and their families within safe accommodation services.
South Derbyshire will receive £32,752 of new funding as part of the £125 million going to councils across England.
The extra money will help victims and their children access life-saving support in safe accommodation, including advocacy, counselling, and therapy in safe locations such as refuges or specialist safe accommodation, where victims and their children can go to get away from their abusers.
The new duty of care will come into force later this year under the Domestic Abuse Bill, in advance of this, Councils will be informed of the amount of funding they will receive so they can plan and provide critical support to those in need.
This funding is part of a wider package of support for victims of rape and domestic abuse, with a £40 million funding boost for victim support services announced on 1 February 2021, building on the unprecedented £76 million pledged in May 2020 to ensure vital services including refuges, helplines and counselling remain accessible throughout the pandemic.
In January 2021, the Conservative Government also launched the ‘Ask for ANI’ codeword scheme, which provides victims of domestic abuse access to immediate help from the police or other support services from their local pharmacy.
The pandemic has made domestic abuse a more prominent issue and by introducing this new legislation and funding it will provide extra support for now and in the future. The Government is determined to support vulnerable people throughout the pandemic, and is working closely with councils, charities and other partners to ensure they get the support they need.
Heather Wheeler MP for South Derbyshire said: “Domestic abuse is a horrid crime which can ruin lives. I often get contacted by those struggling and families who need support.
“The extra funding in South Derbyshire will help provide support to these victims and families, to help them through these difficult circumstances and allow them to rebuild their lives.
“We are taking another big step towards helping break the cycle of domestic abuse and protecting some of the most vulnerable in our society, we are transforming our response to victims and will help them move forward with their lives.”
Also commenting, Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing Eddie Hughes said: “Domestic abuse is a heinous crime which threatens the lives of victims in their own homes where they should feel safe. So it’s right that we’re giving victims support in safe accommodation and providing councils with money to deliver essential services that will help them and their children rebuild their lives.
“This is part of a long-term strategy to provide broader support for domestic abuse victims both in safe accommodation like refuges and in their homes.”
