£16 million funding to go to survivors of domestic violence

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick confirmed that 75 councils across England will benefit from funding to help boost their domestic abuse refuge services.

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The money will help up to 43,000 people who have suffered domestic violence to have access to the help they need and will enable victims and their children to stay safe, recover from the trauma, and access safe permanent rehousing where needed.

The announcement follows the confirmation of a new legal duty to create a consistent approach to accommodation-based support for domestic abuse victims in England, helping all families recover and overcome their experiences.

As well as funding, the Government has announced that the Domestic Abuse Bill will be reintroduced to the House and will bring about the first-ever statutory government definition of domestic abuse to specifically include economic abuse and controlling and manipulative non-physical abuse.

The Bill will also establish a new Domestic Abuse Commissioner and prohibit the cross-examination of victims by their abusers in the family courts.

Domestic abuse destroys lives and leaves victims living in fear in their own homes – the place where they should feel most safe and secure. 

No victim of domestic abuse should have to struggle to get the right support or wait months for help that they need. This new funding of £16.6 million will help local areas better protect victims and their children and provide essential life-saving services, delivering the urgent support that they need to rebuild their lives.

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Robert Jenrick MP Housing Secretary

Image attribution: "Robert Jenrick Official MP Portrait" used under CC BY 3.0 / Cropped from original