Atherstone and North Warwickshire alerted to eleventh-hour extra cash to help domestic abuse and sexual violence victims' services

PCC WANTS TO SEE 'EVERY POSSIBLE SUPPORT' GIVEN TO AID VULNERABLE THROUGH COVID-19 CRISIS

'CONTINUED VIABILITY OF THESE ORGANISATIONS IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER'

ORGANISATIONS in Atherstone and North Warwickshire providing domestic abuse or sexual violence support services through the Covid-19 crisis have been given an eleventh-hour "window of opportunity" to bid for additional emergency Government funding.

A total of £192,000 has been allocated by the Ministry of Justice for schemes across Warwickshire as part of its recently-announced package of extra monies to get "every possible" assistance to victims who it is feared may be more at risk during the pandemic.

While cases have not yet seen large increases since the lockdown began, it is expected that more victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence will come forward as restrictions on movement are eased.

This makes ensuring the continued viability of support services more important than ever, according to Warwickshire police and crime commissioner Philip Seccombe.

The extraordinary funding is to meet the additional costs registered charities or social enterprise have incurred or will incur while adapting their services during the pandemic, and to cope with demand increases resulting from it. It covers the period March 24 to October 31, 2020,

It is ring-fenced into three pots:

• Domestic abuse services that are already commissioned by the PCC (£96,000);
• Domestic abuse services that are not currently commissioned by the PCC (£48,000); and
• Sexual violence services that are already commissioned by PCC and also those that are not currently funded by the PCC (£48,000).

Eligible organisations are being urged not to delay applying for the funding, as there is a "short window of opportunity for bids to be received", added Mr Seccombe. He explained: "I already provide grant funding to a wide range of organisations alongside the support services I directly commission or co-commission but I know that this pandemic has thrown up extraordinary challenges to organisations working with victims. "Some have lost sources of funding as a result and all have had to meet the unexpected expense of changing the way they deliver their services at short notice. "That's why this additional Ministry of Justice funding is very welcome. "It is vitally important that services providing support to victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence can continue their work, as it is widely anticipated that this lockdown period will result in an eventual increase in the number of people that need their support. "My office is in the process of contacting the organisations we already work with to make them aware of the funding opportunities but there may be others out there who could benefit that we simply don't know about." Applications can come from organisations of any size, including small specialist organisations that support particular groups such as BAME, disabled or LGBT victims. He added: "I'd urge any organisation looking to make a bid to get in touch with my office without delay, as the deadline for applications is June 1." For full details of the funding criteria and how to apply, please contact Chris Lewis, the PCC's Development and Policy Lead for Victims, by email at [email protected] or by telephone on 07971 602631.