£700,000 funding boost will help SW councils support domestic abuse victims

South West councils are to receive a total of £700,000 to help them prepare for the introduction of landmark legislation that will ensure domestic abuse victims and their families get the vital help they need.

The funding was announced today by Kelly Tolhurst, the Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing.

Thousands more people are expected to be helped from April 2021 when the new law comes into force placing a duty on councils to support victims of domestic abuse.

The new £6million funding announced today will mean councils in England can commission additional vital support for those victims of domestic abuse and their children who might currently be turned away from refuges and other safe accommodation because their needs cannot be met.

All tier one local authorities will receive £50,000 each to help them prepare, giving a total of £700,000 for the 14 in the South West.

The authorities are Cornwall Council, Devon county, Plymouth and Torbay councils in Devon, Somerset county, North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset councils in Somerset, BCP and Dorset councils in Dorset, Bristol City Council, South Gloucestershire Council, Gloucestershire County Council and Wiltshire and Swindon councils in Wiltshire.

The Domestic Abuse Bill, which is currently before Parliament, includes a  new duty  for councils  to  assess  and  provide  support and safe accommodation to victims and their children in England.

Kelly Tolhurst, the Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing, said: “Survivors of domestic abuse need safe refuge in order to escape this heinous crime and support to start to rebuild their lives.

“Councils already provide much-needed support, but the landmark Domestic Abuse Bill will mean for the first time councils will have a duty to provide support in safe accommodation for anyone fleeing abuse.

“The funding I am announcing today will help councils prepare for this new duty that will see thousands more survivors helped and a generation of their children able to grow up safely and free from fear of abuse.”