Cost of living crisis preventing women from fleeing domestic abuse, Luton charity confirms
66% survivors say abusers are using the cost of living crisis to increase control
A women's centre in Luton has confirmed the cost of living crisis is preventing women from fleeing domestic abuse, as well as recover and rebuild their lives if they do manage to escape.
"The psychological stress is really high"
Caroline Cook, CEO of Luton All Women’s Centre said, "a perpetrator will control how a woman spends her money, how much money she's allowed to have, and controls the bank accounts.
"With the financial crisis, this is all squeezing in tighter, so it's likely to get very much worse."
She adds, "financial abuse doesn't often happen by itself so other forms of abuse will be happening at the same time. But for somebody to have no control over the ability to go out and buy some shopping, the psychological stress that puts somebody under is really high."
66% survivors say abusers are using the cost of living crisis to increase control
Research conducted by the charity Women's Aid found:
- 95% of survivors had seen a negative impact on the amount of money available to them as a result of cost of living increases
- 73% of women living with and having financial links with an abuser said the cost of living crisis had either prevented them from leaving or made it harder to leave
- 66% of survivors said abusers are now using the cost of living increase and concerns about financial hardship as a toll for coercive control, including justifying further restricting their access to money
Support is available
If you are facing domestic abuse and wish to speak to someone to get help, call Refuge on 0808 2000 247 or visit their website: https://refuge.org.uk/
Alternatively, you can anonymously speak to Women's Aid through a live chat service or visit their website: www.womensaid.org.uk/
Male victims of domestic abuse can also contact ManKind confidentially on 01823 334 244 or at https://www.mankind.org.uk/