Funding boost will tackle worrying levels of domestic abuse
John Dickens • Published 25 Jul 2012 07:30
0 Comments
Share this
See also:
- Shelter opens for male domestic abuse victims
- No horse meat contamination in Slough or Buckinghamshire
- Horse meat tests to be carried out
- Charity boss calls for councils to do more after 'disgraceful' review of home care providers
- New Olympic legacy rowing centre would 'help clubs cope with surge in members'
THE council will nearly double its funding as part of a 'new approach' to tackle alarmingly high levels of domestic abuse.
An internal review of domestic violence services by Slough Borough Council has resulted in the authority ramping up funding by 65% - from £380,000 to £630,000 a year.
The extra cash is aimed at dragging down worrying numbers of nine reports of domestic abuse every day in Slough last year - more than double the number of reports in 2007.
Mike Bibby, assistant director for personalisation, commissioning and partnerships, said: "We have high levels of domestic abuse and it is currently a significant priority for us.
"We undertook a review 18 months ago that recommended we have a strategic, one council approach that combined funding streams from across the council."
The council has adopted a new approach to intervene at an earlier stage.
It has split funds between three organisations that address individual and family domestic abuse, refuge accommodation and resettlement support and include a domestic abuse perpetrator programme being set up.
Mr Bibby added: "Part of the reason we have increased the resources is because if we can address things and intervene at an earlier stage it reduces the impact on the numbers of children that are suffering."
Nearly half of all domestic abuse incidents in Slough last year were repeat victims and 15% of looked after children entered care because of domestic abuse.
Berkshire East and South Bucks Women's Aid, Domestic Violence Intervention Project (DVIP) and Home Group, which funds the Kinara Asian Women's Refuge, were all awarded contracts to provide the new service by Slough Borough Council.
Groups submitted bids which were assessed against the council's objectives and criteria during a tendering process.
Councillor Pavitar Kaur Mann, commissioner for opportunity and skills added: "The council's commitment to tackling domestic violence has only grown and this new enhanced service will offer quality services that better meet the needs of local people."
The new service is expected to be in place by October.
This article appeared in Slough Observer 25 Jul 12
Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.
