Councils across Cumbria will receive almost £1.2 million to help victims of domestic abuse and their children.
The Government has announced that Cumbria County Council will receive £995,779, Allerdale council £32,529; Barrow Borough Council, £33,047; Carlisle £32,315; Copeland £34,823; Eden £33,354 and South Lakeland District Council £33,072 from the Government to provide additional support for victims of domestic abuse and their children from April.
The extra funding will help victims and their children access life-saving support in safe accommodation, including advocacy, counselling, and therapy in safe locations such as refuges or specialist safe accommodation, where victims and their children can go to get away from their abusers.
In total, councils across England will receive £125 million.
Councils will be required to provide support to domestic abuse victims and their children within safe accommodation services, where needs have been identified.
It will come into force later this year with the passage of the landmark Domestic Abuse Bill, with funding announced in advance so local authorities know how much they will receive for these vital services and can begin to plan.
This funding is part of a wider package of support for victims of rape and domestic abuse, with a £40 million funding boost for victim support services announced on February 1, building on the £76 million pledged in May 2020 to ensure vital services including refuges, helplines and counselling remain accessible throughout the pandemic.
In January, the Ask for ANI codeword scheme was launched, which provides victims of domestic abuse access to immediate help from the police or other support services from their local pharmacy.
Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing Eddie Hughes said: “Domestic abuse is a heinous crime which threatens the lives of victims in their own homes where they should feel safe.
“So it’s right that we’re giving victims support in safe accommodation and providing councils with money to deliver essential services that will help them and their children rebuild their lives.
“This is part of a long-term strategy to provide broader support for domestic abuse victims both in safe accommodation like refuges and in their homes.”
