Rochdale Council to receive funding to help domestic abuse survivors

Rochdale Council will receive £55,926

Rochdale Borough Council is being given a boost to provide essential, life-saving support in safe housing for survivors of domestic abuse and their children, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has confirmed.

Councils across the North West will share over £2.1m – with Rochdale receiving £55,926 – helping survivors access the support they need as they move towards a safe future, free from domestic abuse.

The new funding will enable victims and their children to stay safe, recover from the trauma, and access safe permanent rehousing where needed.

Domestic abuse is a devastating crime which shatters the lives of over two million survivors and their families every year.

Councillor Janet Emsley, cabinet member for neighbourhoods, community and culture at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “We’re very pleased to have been awarded this funding which will help us to improve the outcomes for domestic abuse victims in our borough.

“This will be used to improve the access to refuge and safe accommodation locally. It will fund further staffing to support families and allow us to implement an enhanced programme of support to tackle the wider consequences for victims and children who experience domestic abuse.”

This announcement follows the confirmation of a new legal duty which will create a consistent approach to accommodation-based support for domestic abuse victims across England.

This will help all families recover and overcome their experiences, regardless of where they live.

In addition, the Domestic Abuse Bill being reintroduced shortly will bring about the first ever statutory government definition of domestic abuse to specifically include economic abuse and controlling and manipulative non-physical abuse.

The Bill will also establish a new Domestic Abuse Commissioner and prohibit the cross-examination of victims by their abusers in the family courts.

This action will help more people understand domestic abuse and ensure those that need support can access it, whilst staying safe and protected from future abuse.