Government announces additional £40m to help victims of domestic abuse and rape

The government has unveiled an additional £40m to help victims of domestic abuse and rape during the Covid crisis.

Domestic violence has risen during the pandemic as lockdown measures have trapped victims at home with abusive partners and exacerbated pre-existing patterns of abuse.

Some £16m of the funding will go towards hiring more independent sexual violence and domestic abuse advisers – who provide emotional support and criminal justice advice – across the UK.

The government’s newly unveiled money comes after The Independent recently reported cash-strapped services for domestic abuse survivors have been forced to turn away victims fleeing abusive partners due to facing a funding crisis.

Leading services warned bed shortages push survivors into homelessness or force them to return to their abuser – with providers saying they have long been grappling with severe economic uncertainty due to austerity measures forcing refuges to close or cut their services, but rising levels of demand during the pandemic have exacerbated a fragile situation.

The government’s funding pledge is accompanied by a new campaign titled #ItStillMatters in a bid to make sure survivors of rape and sexual abuse are aware of places they can access help.

A sexual violence victim, who did not wish to be named, said she would not have been unable to have coped without her independent sexual violence advisor.

She added: “She understood what I was going through and she knew how I needed to be told things and handled.

“I remember her telling me to keep breathing and when I was in court, I could hear her breathing too and it reminded me that I was not alone. My ISVA never compromised on their aim to put me first. I would trust her with my life.”

Justice Minister Alex Chalk said for many victims the Covid crisis has been an “inescapable nightmare” where they either “feel trapped and at greater risk of harm”.

While Katie Russell, national spokesperson for Rape Crisis England and Wales, said: “As the extremely challenging conditions of the last ten months have exacerbated isolation, anxiety and complex physical, mental and emotional health issues for sexual violence and abuse victims and survivors, we’ve inevitably seen demand for our specialist services increase even further.

“This new contribution towards our ongoing efforts to fulfil victims’ and survivors’ unmet needs is vital and very gratefully received.”

But domestic abuse services previously told The Independent the emergency funds released by the government earlier on in the public health crisis have been insufficient and fail to deliver a sustainable long-term solution to the funding crises services face as well as being tricky to access due to bureaucratic hurdles.

Anyone who requires help or support can contact the National Domestic Abuse Helpline which is open 24/7 365 days per year on 0808 2000 247 or via their website https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/