More help and support for victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence is to be put in place across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland thanks to hundreds of thousands of pounds in extra funding.
Leicestershire’s Office of Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) led a partnership bid to win a slice of a £17m Home Office fund to help prevent and address violence against women and girls.
This week Home Secretary Amber Rudd announced more than 40 projects across the country had been successful - including £600,000 for the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) No More in LLR.
Although the OPCC had bid for almost £840,000, the award to VAWG No More was the sixth biggest grant in the country.
The project - supported by the city and county councils, Leicestershire Police, health and other agencies, including charities - aims to help victims by intervening earlier in smarter, more holistic ways.
This will include emergency support for victims of domestic abuse and/or sexual violence (within 24 hours), outreach work and specific BME-focused provision.
The full details of how the money will be spent are yet to be finalised but Police and Crime Commissioner Lord Willy Bach said:
“I am thrilled that we have managed to secure the sixth highest award from the Government’s Violence Against Women and Girls Transformation Fund for victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence across LLR.
“Abuse of women, girls, and yes men too, is abhorrent and it is an issue which should shame us all. But I have witnessed first hand the real commitment which exists between the police, local authorities, health and across the wider partnership spectrum, to eradicate sexual violence and domestic abuse across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
“This money will go some way towards helping us achieve that goal.”
Detective Superintendent Simon Cure from Leicestershire Police’s serious crime team, said:
“We are delighted with the award. We will be working closely with the Police and Crime Commissioner and partner agencies to enhance the way we collectively provide a service to individuals and families. This funding will improve the way in which we are able to bring information together and assess risk, it will no doubt provide additional support for victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence.”
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Note to editors:
- The funding has been awarded through the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Service Transformation Fund, which is designed to support earlier intervention and prevention so that fewer women reach crisis point.
- In the last Parliament, the government published its strategy to end violence against women and girls, making clear that everyone needs to play their part – friends, family, employers, health providers and the police. It also introduced a specific offence of controlling or coercive behaviour.
- Partner agencies involved in VAWG No More are:
Leicestershire OPCC
Leicestershire Police
Leicester City Council
Leicestershire County Council
Rutland County Council
West Leicestershire CCG
East Leicestershire and Rutland CCG
Leicester City CCG
Living Without Abuse
New Dawn New Day
First Step
Quetzal
Leicester Rape Crisis
Leicester LGBT Centre
4. Both the Home Office’s definition of VAWG services and our VAWG No More project include provision which is available to both men/boys as well as women/girls
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Posted on Thursday 6th July 2017