More than £500k secured in funding to help domestic abuse sufferers in Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire has been awarded £510,862 by the government for the next financial year, with £486,862 to fund specialist support staff and £24,000 to safely house victims who have no recourse to public funds.

Northampton Borough Council submitted the bid working alongside Northamptonshire Domestic Abuse Service (NDAS), Eve, Northamptonshire County Council, and the six other Borough, District Councils in the county.

Councillor Anna King, the borough council’s cabinet member for community safety and engagement, said: “Domestic abuse is a devastating crime which shatters the lives of over two million survivors and their families every year.

“This funding will enable victims and their children to stay safe, recover from the trauma, and access safe permanent rehousing where needed.

“The project will provide a range of safe accommodation options and a managed safe accommodation pathway, focused on tenancy sustainment and the prevention of homelessness, whilst making optimal use of the county’s network of refuges, and is focused on early intervention.

“Many councils are already providing tailored support to those in need, but this move will bring an end to the postcode lottery of support for those fleeing abusive relationships.”

The funding will help provide 35 units of safe accommodation in refuge, including two emergency units, ten sanctuaries and a minimum of 25 houses.

It is estimated that a quarter of women and one-sixth of men in Northamptonshire have experienced domestic abuse at some point in their lifetime.

And during the last 12 months, 45,000 people (six per cent of the county’s population) were victims of domestic abuse and, of these, around 38,000 (85 per cent) sought help at least five times before getting the help they needed.

Councillor Sandra Naden-Horley, Northamptonshire County Council’s cabinet member for corporate and community services, said: “I’m very pleased this funding bid has been successful.

“It’s vital that people affected by domestic abuse can get the help they need to recover and rebuild their lives and this funding will see more support available for victims who otherwise would have no support, bolstering the work already being done in this area.”