Stuart Anderson MP has welcomed further funding to deliver vital support to help victims of domestic abuse and their children rebuild their lives within safe accommodation. The Government has announced that the City of Wolverhampton Council will receive £1.3 million over the next two years to plan support services and work closely with local charities and other service providers to best meet the needs of victims of domestic abuse who have had to flee their homes.
Stuart said that the funding, which will be issued as a flexible grant, will deliver vital services to help victims of domestic abuse make a new start and raise their children in safer settings. The funding can be used to deliver counselling, help with rehousing, financial advice, and play therapy for traumatised children. It follows the Government’s landmark Domestic Abuse Act 2021, which came into effect last October and places a legal duty on local authorities across England to ensure that victims of domestic abuse and their children can access the right support in safe accommodation when they need it. The £257 million new burden funding is being allocated to local authorities for delivery of their duties, helping to pay for these vital services. The Government has said that they will receive £127.3 million in 2023/24 and £129.7 million in 2024/25.
The new duty is just one part of the Government’s work to drive down the prevalence of domestic abuse and to provide victims and survivors with the support they need, when they need it. In March, the Government set out its Action Plan detailing a ‘whole of society’ approach to tackling domestic abuse. It includes multi-year funding package to deliver community-based support services and a commitment to doubling funding for the National Domestic Abuse Helpline, which is operated by the national charity, Refuge (www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk).
Housing and Homelessness Minister Felicity Buchan said: “Domestic abuse is a devastating crime, and this funding will help victims and their children across the country who need to escape from danger to recover and rebuild their lives in safe housing. Whether it’s counselling, advice on how to handle finances or help finding a new home – councils can use this money to make a real difference on the ground, giving victims the help and support they need.”
Stuart Anderson MP said: “Domestic abuse is a truly horrific crime. It was one of the very first issues that I raised in Parliament following my election. In Wolverhampton, we have many frontline organisations that do so much to help people make a new start after such a difficult time. I was proud to support the landmark Domestic Abuse Act, which enshrined in law the duty to ensure that victims, survivors, and their families get the support that they need in safe accommodation when they need it. This £1.3 million investment for local services in Wolverhampton will help to deliver on the commitments that we made in that legislation and make sure individuals and their dependents can access life-saving support and rebuild their lives in a setting that is safer, sooner.”