25th March 2014

Northamptonshire domestic violence refuges reprieved until September 2014

The planned closure of refuges that protect female domestic abuse victims in Northamptonshire has been halted until operators can find other funds.

The county council said it would extend funds to the county’s 68 refuge places after a government grant was cut. But the reprieve would only last until September, it added.

The charity, which provides some accommodation, has warned that lives could be put at risk if the emergency centres, which cost £750,000 a year to run, were forced to close.

The refuges had been funded by the government’s Supporting People programme, but money for staff to run them is no longer available(*).

Victims of abuse will continue to be eligible for financial help enabling them to live independently or in bed and breakfast accommodation.
Northamptonshire County Council has asked organisations to tender for services for abuse victims, but has not included a requirement to provide centres.
Ms Lovell said it would be “unrealistic” to think that 68 places could stay open, but that the charity was looking to “talk some more to see if we can save at least some.”
Part of a longer news report at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-26641989

(*) Act now to save Northamptonshire’s domestic violence refuges from closure