Wiltshire Council aims to enhance existing services with domestic abuse support funding
£1.7 million of funding will be used over the next two years
Wiltshire Council has disclosed how it will use government funding to provide ‘vital’ support to people suffering domestic abuse.
The £1.7 million of government funding has come from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to help local authorities fulfil their statutory duty to support victims of domestic abuse.
Cllr Ian Blair-Piling, Cabinet Member for Public Health said the funding is vital and will allow the council to invest in preventing such ‘devastating’ behaviour.
“Our focus is to enhance and strengthen the offer of the existing contracts we have in place, ensuring we can do even more to help those who need it as quickly as possible.
“We work with a range of specialist providers who are experts in their field, and we’re pleased to be able to give them the opportunities and tools to expand their work.”
The strategy for how the money will be spent has been developed based on local needs.
It will be spent on a range of support, including:
• Resettlement workers
• Children’s workers to provide support to children who have witnessed domestic abuse
• Domestic Abuse Safety Advisor
• Flats and properties from Julian House to provide additional safe accommodation for both male and female victims and their families who are fleeing domestic abuse
• Family drug and alcohol workers to support people who are impacted by substance use and domestic abuse
• Training to improve the understanding of gypsy, roma, traveller cultures
• Target hardening to enhance the safety of victims choosing to stay in their own homes
• Community connectors to support victims to rebuild their lives after abuse
• Risk psychologists to support people who are impacted by domestic abuse, substance use and mental health
£849,000 of the funding has been allocated for spending in 2023/24 and a further £865k in 2024/25.