The County Council has been successful in its bid for £500,000 of Government funding for survivors of domestic abuse and their children.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has made the announcement that Nottinghamshire will receive the funding which will be used to maintain safe accommodation such as refuges and other specialist services. This is part of a national funding programme of £16.6 million for 2020/21.
The County Council led the Nottinghamshire bid made up of partners including the seven district and borough councils and the Police and Crime Commissioner. Together with existing County Council funding of £174,852, it will pay for a total of 40 family units and 206 beds across the county which will be provided by Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid, Midlands Women’s Aid, Newark Women’s Aid and Juno Women’s Aid.
Councillor Boyd Elliott, Vice Chair of the County Council’s Adult Social Care and Health Committee, who represents Calverton said: “This is great news for Nottinghamshire. This funding is a vital lifeline for these local services and we are incredibly supportive of the work they do with survivors of domestic abuse and their children. Not only do they offer a safe place and support for survivors, but they also help them to rebuild their lives away from the threat of abuse and in some cases help them to move areas and settle in a new community.”
Cathy Saunders, Chief Executive of Midlands Women’s Aid, said: “This funding has allowed us to maintain our services for a further year. Without it our refuge and related services would have closed later this year resulting in the loss of 53 bed spaces.”
Marlene Ferris, from Newark Women’s Aid, said: “MHCLG funding is vital to us, it will ensure our service can continue. Without the funding, the lifeline service which is Newark Refuge, would have to close, with a loss of 32 bed spaces and leaving even fewer safe places for women and children to escape to.”