£115,000 funding to help victims of domestic abuse in Shropshire

Further support will now be available for male victims, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and people from minority groups.

Communities Minister Lord Bourne confirmed that four further areas in England will receive a share of the Government’s £20 million fund to support victims of domestic abuse.

This includes £115,753 for Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin councils.

This latest allocation – totalling more than £440,000 – will go to projects that will support more than 190 victims with somewhere safe to live and rebuild their lives, and provide further access to education, employment and life skills training.

The projects are focussed on providing dedicated support to male victims, those of black, Asian and other minority ethnic heritage, those with a high number of children, including older male children, and those with complex needs including disabilities.

Earlier this year the Government confirmed grants to support 76 projects across England to help around 19,000 victims of domestic abuse.

Communities Minister Lord Bourne said: “Domestic abuse ruins lives with many victims forced to leave their homes for their own safety and to access the services they urgently need.

“We’re clear that the victim must always come first. It’s important that we recognise that victims can come from all races, genders and backgrounds. The victim may also have children who also need the support and safe haven. This funding is a major boost to meet their needs.”

Last November, the Government published its ‘Priorities for Domestic Abuse Services’.

This set out what local areas need to put in place to make sure that their approach to domestic abuse is as effective as it can be, working across authority boundaries and collaboratively with specialist services.

To support this work the Government announced a £20 million fund.

In February 2017 the first allocations of this money was awarded to local areas.

The funding supports a wide range of services and safe accommodation, including refuges, outreach services, sanctuary safe-at-home schemes and local authority and independent accommodation.

Given that victims of domestic abuse will have different needs, many of the projects being supported are tailored towards support for specific groups including victims with mental health issues, substance abuse problems, or the particular needs of different ethnic minority communities.