Women’s Aid responds to Domestic Abuse Commissioner raising concerns about councils funding crisis

Farah Nazeer, chief executive of Women’s Aid, comments:  

“Women’s Aid’s expertise on the national network of domestic abuse provision has continued to demonstrate the funding crisis that specialist women’s domestic abuse services have been facing. For over a decade this has resulted in a postcode lottery of support for women and girls who are being turned away daily at the point of need. The rise in the number of Section 114 notices issued by councils and the impact this will have on specialist domestic abuse support services is incredibly concerning.  

 

“Without urgent action, we are concerned that domestic abuse services across the country, particularly community-based support services which councils do not have a statutory obligation to fund, may be at risk of closure – leaving a large cohort of women and children without the support they need to recover from abuse.  

“We are calling on the Government to commit to invest £427 million per year to fund specialist women’s domestic abuse services, alongside ring-fenced funding for ‘by and for’ services for Black and minoritised women, Deaf and disabled women and LGBT+ survivors. It is only by securing these vital funds can the services continue delivering the life-saving care and support to survivors and their children.”