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Victims of domestic violence at risk as women’s refuges’ experience benefit cuts
Victims of domestic violence at risk as women’s refuges’ experience benefit cuts
As a result of the Welfare Reform Act 2012, along with cuts to local authority budgets, the national network of refuge services have been put at serious risk.
Alpraham,
Cheshire,
United Kingdom
(sardnews.org)
16/03/2013
As a result of the Welfare Reform Act 2012, along with cuts to local authority budgets, the national network of refuge services have been put at serious risk.
As a result, adult and child victims of domestic abuse have no choice but to remain in life-threatening situations.
Refuge services are always in very high demand and due to overcrowding many women and children are turned away daily. In just one day in June lat year, there were 320 women and their children seeking refuge at one of these establishments. Currently, two women are killed each week by a current or former partner, and without refuge services, this figure is set to rise.
Tina Royles is the UK's leading domestic violence expert with over 20 years' experience on the frontline and on a strategic level. She provides domestic violence counselling and consultancy to individuals and organisations. She says:
"Having been a former police officer for 16 years and having spent a substantial part of my police career as a domestic violence officer; I know from a frontline perspective of the vital role Refuges play in ensuring victims of domestic violence have of not only emergency accommodation, but also they have access to the help and support for themselves and any children in times of vulnerability and need.
"As a former Trustee of one refuge, and a Director of another I also have inside knowledge of the strain that lack of funding and resources places on a refuge and its ability to help as many victims as possible that suffer from domestic violence who approach them for help.
"Funding is often inadequate where domestic violence in general is concerned, but it certainly is lacking in order for refuges to meet the demands of the ever growing number of victims.
"Perhaps if government ministers and local authority decision makers spent 'adequate' time not only finding out more about the excellent work such refuges carry out, but also spent time at these refuges gaining 'real' insight then perhaps they wouldn't be so quick to look at services that help the vulnerable when looking to make overall funding cuts."
Notes to Editors
Tina Royles is one of the UK's most qualified and experienced domestic violence experts providing consultancy and advice to those who have suffered domestic violence, are currently in violent relationships or to friends and family of those affected. Tina provides the domestic violence information, materials and tools to manage relationship difficulties and domestic violence through awareness and education and is regularly called upon by the national and local press to provide expert comments on high profile cases. To find out more about what domestic violence is, click here. Visit Tina Royles website to find out more about domestic violence and the resource available to individuals and organisations.
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About Tina Royless
Tina Royles is one of the UK’s most qualified and experienced domestic violence experts providing consultancy and advice to those who have suffered domestic violence, are currently in violent relationships or to friends and family of those affected.
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