Women’s Aid urges council leaders to provide support to domestic abuse services this winter
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Farah Nazeer, chief executive of Women’s Aid, has written to all council leaders in England, urging councils to provide vital support to specialist domestic abuse services this winter.
The cost-of-living crisis is having an unprecedented impact on domestic abuse survivors and services across the country – and urgent action is required.
Women’s Aid research shows 96% of women who have experienced abuse are struggling financially. Women who have been trapped in households with abusers now can’t pay for basic essentials, with over a quarter having to access foodbanks with their children.
After facing the COVID-19 pandemic, services across the country are now struggling with severe staffing pressures – inflation and low salaries mean that women working in the sector are unable to make ends meet. One service manager said, “We’ve had to provide a wellbeing table with food for staff so at least they can eat two meals at work.”
Farah Nazeer, chief executive of Women’s Aid, said, “Services are telling us that the rising cost of living is having an unprecedented impact on their ability to support women. Across England, our frontline domestic abuse services provide a lifeline to survivors – from refuges to community-based services. Without action now, many local services will risk going under, and many women will be forced to stay with their abuser, even when their lives are at risk.
“Women’s Aid understands the significant pressures facing local authorities, but unprecedented times call for urgent action. We are asking local authorities to do everything in their power to protect women and children experiencing domestic abuse by supporting the services they depend on.”
Regional statistics collected by Women’s Aid have revealed the following:
South East: Latest Women’s Aid data shows there is a 38% refuge space shortfall, against the minimum recommended by Council of Europe, and 37 community domestic abuse services in desperate need of support.
North West: Latest Women’s Aid data shows there is a 35% refuge space shortfall against the minimum recommended by Council of Europe, and 35 community domestic abuse services in desperate need of support.
Yorkshire and the Humberside: Latest Women’s Aid data shows there is a 23% refuge space shortfall against the minimum recommended by Council of Europe, and 22 community domestic abuse services in desperate need of support.
East Midlands: Latest Women’s Aid data shows there is a 32% refuge space shortfall against the minimum recommended by Council of Europe, and 19 community domestic abuse services in desperate need of support.
East of England: Latest Women’s Aid data shows there is a 38% refuge space shortfall against the minimum recommended by Council of Europe, and 21 community domestic abuse services in desperate need of support.
North East: Latest Women’s Aid data shows there is a 31% refuge space shortfall against the minimum recommended by Council of Europe and 20 community domestic abuse services in desperate need of support.
South West: Latest Women’s Aid data shows there is a 42% refuge space shortfall against the minimum recommended by Council of Europe and 19 community domestic abuse services in desperate need of support.
London: Latest Women’s Aid data shows over 60 refuges and 53 community domestic abuse services are in desperate need of support.
West Midlands: Latest Women’s Aid data shows there is 30 refuge services and 22 community domestic abuse services in desperate need of support. For more information, visit: https://www.womensaid.org.uk/
