A domestic abuse refuge has expressed concerns that they may not be able to ‘endure’ following the revelation of a £321 million government funding gap impacting domestic abuse charities.
Recent findings from Women’s Aid indicated that around 1,300,000 women in England aged 16 and above encountered domestic abuse in 2023, yet to adequately address the issue, £516,000,000 in funding is necessary.
Securing essential funding has become increasingly challenging, a women’s refuge shelter informed Metro, as smaller community organizations are being ‘marginalized,’ which may result in closures.
Surwat Sohail, the chief executive of the domestic abuse organization Roshni, which supports marginalized communities affected by forced marriage, honour-based violence, and sexual abuse, shared with Metro that the Birmingham-based refuge is being ‘excluded’ from funding opportunities.
‘We’re gradually being forced out, and currently, I’m anxious about our survival,’ Ms. Sohail stated.
‘Organizations like Roshni heavily depend on funding from various grant sources, and the issue we are encountering is that government budget cuts are redirecting many other organizations toward grant funding as well.
‘This situation can marginalize smaller organizations since they generally face higher costs as they cannot spread expenses across as many resources as larger organizations can.’
From the 1,600,000 victims, less than one in ten managed to access community-based support, according to Women’s Aid.
Moreover, when victims of domestic abuse were referred to a refuge or community organization, 60% of those referrals were declined.
The primary reason was a lack of resources on the part of the refuge services, the charity discovered.
If smaller domestic abuse refuges like Roshni are compelled to shut down due to funding challenges, there will be a significant gap in direct support for abuse victims, which could elevate various risk factors for victims, from mental health complications to increased suicide rates.
Ms. Sohail further commented: ‘Some women may hesitate to leave those abusive relationships, as we have encountered women who indicate they will hold off until a space is available in a refuge before seeking help.
‘And if our services are nonexistent, what will be the consequence? What will be the repercussions?’
Head of Research and Evaluation at Women’s Aid, Sarika Seshadri, shared similar concerns regarding the demand for enhanced support—both financial and otherwise—for community-based services and refuges dedicated to domestic abuse victims.
She conveyed to Metro: ‘The government has committed to halving violence against women and girls within the next decade, which is commendable; however, domestic abuse remains the most prevalent form of violence targeting women and girls.
This Is Not Right
On November 25, 2024, Metro inaugurated This Is Not Right, a year-long initiative aimed at tackling the pervasive epidemic of violence against women.
Throughout the year, we will share narratives highlighting the immense scale of the epidemic.
With the partnership of Women’s Aid, This Is Not Right aspires to engage and empower our audience concerning the issue of violence against women.
You can access additional articles here. If you wish to share your experience with us, please email us at vaw@metro.co.uk.
Read more:
- Introducing This Is Not Right: Metro’s year-long violence against women initiative
- Yvette Cooper’s message to abusers and rapists: The streets don’t belong to you
- Remembering the women tragically lost to men in 2024
- Stories about violence against women often fail to create an impact – here’s why
- Men – we require your assistance to eliminate violence against women
- What actions to take if your loved one is in danger of domestic abuse
‘However, currently, the UK is facing a shortfall of approximately £321 million in funding required by the sector.
‘We estimate that the sector provided support to around 124,000 women and 160,000 children in refuges and community-based services in 2023.
‘Yet, that reflects less than one in ten of the projected individuals who have endured domestic abuse thus far.’
Labour’s campaign during the 2024 elections committed to ‘reduce violence against women and girls by half within ten years’ through utilizing ‘every governmental resource available to target perpetrators and address the underlying causes of abuse and violence’.
‘We are advocating for the government to collaborate closely with the violence against women and girls sector in crafting their strategy to guide their policy discussions,’ Ms. Seshadri added.
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