Bo Bottomley, Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Refuge, said:
“The recognition in today’s Budget of the Government pledge to halve violence against women and girls (VAWG) by 2034 is a welcome reassurance of their ambitious manifesto commitment, but it must be matched by urgent investment. We welcome funding announced to tackle the misogyny that drives VAWG, and whilst we have long called for preventative action to tackle misogyny as the root cause of domestic abuse this is just one part of a much larger picture.
Domestic abuse and VAWG is an immediate crisis and the Budget has disappointedly failed to provide the wider level of investment desperately needed now in domestic abuse specialist services to ensure every survivor has timely access to support when they need it.
Recent ONS data shows that almost one in 10 adults (9.6%) experienced domestic abuse in the last year alone – a figure which represents just the tip of the iceberg with many cases continuing to go unreported. Refuge is disappointed that the Government has missed this vital opportunity to make the financial commitment needed to protect survivors and meet rising demand for specialist support services.
The Government is prioritising its mission to tackle rough sleeping, which is accompanied by a welcome financial commitment. Domestic abuse is a leading cause of homelessness, and we hope this will be reflected in the use of these funds. We urge the Government to consider the role of specialist domestic abuse services in supporting women who are homeless and providing them with the safe accommodation they deserve.
As the UK’s largest specialist domestic abuse service provider, we see firsthand how safe accommodation and specialist support lay the foundations needed for survivors to rebuild their lives free from abuse. Despite this, investment in specialist refuge accommodation and community-based services continues to fall well below what is required.
Refuge welcomed the funding announced alongside the VAWG Strategy last December but warned that this would not go far enough to meet demand. Years of chronic underfunding have pushed services to breaking point, resulting in closures, reduced provision and lengthy waiting lists, leaving survivors at risk of being unable to access support when they need it most.
Specialist services and the survivors who depend on them cannot afford to bear the brunt of underinvestment any longer. The Government’s pledge to halve VAWG must be more than words. Without the investment to make it a reality, specialist services will remain under pressure, and survivors will continue to pay the price.”
