Extra Funding To Tackle Domestic Abuse In Worthing, Horsham and Chichester

Extra government funding has been awarded to help tackle domestic abuse in Worthing, Horsham and Chichester.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has awarded Worthing Borough Council with £32,776 to help address domestic abuse.

It has also awarded Chichester and Horsham with £34,000 each to help provide safety for victims in those areas. 

It is a share of the £125 million which will be handed to councils across England to ensure safe accommodation spaces, such as refuges and shelters, are provided for victims.

Central government says a total of £330 million has been awarded to date which has also been used by local authorities to fund healthcare, social workers, interpreters, immigration advice, and other specialist services.

Responding to the announcement, WBC’s executive member for customer services Heather Mercer said:

“I am delighted that we have been awarded specific funding for the victims of domestic abuse.

“We are all aware of the under-reporting of domestic abuse in the last two years of the covid pandemic.

“Domestic abuse strips people, particularly women, of their dignity, self belief, and worth and leads to long term mental health challenges for many.”

Dr Mercer said the funding would help the council’s ‘experienced and committed’ well-being team to better support those experiencing domestic  abuse.

Executive member for health and wellbeing at the council, Sean McDonald, added:

“There is cross-party support to reduce domestic violence and to reduce all violence against women.”

West Sussex County Council will receive the lion’s share of funding for the area, totalling more than £1.5 million.

It is hoped this will help local authorities to meet new duties placed upon them by the Domestic Abuse Act which came into force in April last year.

A spokesman for Horsham District Council said they had not yet been told when it would receive the money, adding:

“We are still planning how to spent the money to best support victims of domestic abuse.”

As for last year’s grant – also of just over £34,000 – they added:

“We used the resource to provide accommodation to households fleeing domestic abuse and to facilitate additional training for our housing team.

“In addition we identified opportunities to maximise possible outcomes for victims through partnership working.”

Alan Sutton, cabinet member for housing communications, licensing & events at Chichester District Council, said:

“This funding will give victims of domestic abuse from the Chichester district, and their children, the practical and emotional support to recover and rebuild their lives from this terrible crime.

“Home is not the safe place it should be for domestic abuse victims and their families.

“The extra support will provide a vital lifeline for victims as they try and rebuild their lives positively while feeling protected.”

The new law requires all local authorities to publish a strategy setting out how they will protect and assist survivors of domestic abuse while providing safe accommodation.

Government also announced a consultation which could see the local connections test and joint tenancy rules relaxed – something that could make it easier for domestic abuse victims to ‘rebuild their lives’ in a new area or remain in their own homes.

Dr Mercer said that easing the rules could ‘increase confidence and security’, particularly for women.

A budget report released earlier this month outlined ‘increased demand’ for WBC’s housing service and this new funding could help towards easing the cost of temporary and emergency accommodation.

If you need help: The Safe in Sussex helpline is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 3pm – Call 01903 896202 or visit www.safeinsussex.co.uk

The National Domestic Violence Helpline can be called free 24 hours a day at 0808 2000 247 or visit www.nationaldomesticviolencehelpline.org.uk