Concern Preston's £32,000 domestic violence funding is far less than what is really needed

A domestic violence expert says newly announced Government funding is a ‘drop in the ocean’.
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As part of its domestic abuse bill the Government is giving Preston a slice of a £125 million funding pot for councils, which have legal duties to ensure victims can access vital services and safe accommodation, including refuges.

In 2019, a domestic abuse incident was recorded on average every 16 minutes in Lancashire.

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Home Office data shows 15% of crime recorded by Lancashire Constabulary - 21,474 -involved domestic abuse in the year to March 2020.

Rachel HormanRachel Horman
Rachel Horman

Rachel Horman, a specialist lawyer and member of Safenet, which provides refuges, safe houses and support in Preston, Lancaster, and east Lancashire, says: “Obviously any funding is welcome and is a relief for local refuges and will give them some breathing space financially, but this really is just a drop in the ocean in terms of the costs of providing safe spaces for victims of domestic abuse in the area.

“Providers are still very much reliant on funding from other sources to provide this service which should be totally government funded as it can literally be the difference between life and death for many women and children.

“Refuges spend way too much of their time applying for funding from multiple trusts and funders and this time could be far better spent providing much needed emotional and practical support to the vulnerable service users.

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“Domestic abuse has sky rocketed since lockdown and the rate of women being murdered by their partners is at an all time high. If we are serious about reducing this then we need to be far more ambitious with funding than this.”

Funding is a 'drop in the ocean'Funding is a 'drop in the ocean'
Funding is a 'drop in the ocean'

In 2017, 826 people were referred to their refuges.

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