More funding for domestic abuse support charities after one faces £12,000 fuel bill rise

By
Anna Whittaker
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Nottinghamshire County Council's County Hall
By Anna Whittaker, Local Democracy Reporter

Extra funding is being given to help Nottinghamshire charities supporting people who have experience domestic abuse deal with rising costs after one said its fuel bill had risen by £12,000 this year.

Newark Women’s Aid said the number of referrals to its refuge remains high – and the service is also taking a hit from the cost of living increases affecting food, fuel, clothing, rent and tax.
Nottinghamshire County Council is planning to uplift the amount of funding for five domestic abuse survivors’ charities in a bid to help with current pressures for the next two years, at a total cost of £133,568.

Domestic abuse support services in the county are commissioned by the Public Health team at the council. 

The move will help five voluntary services in the county – Juno Women’s Aid, Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid, Equation, Newark Women’s Aid and Midlands Women’s Aid.

It follows a huge increase in demand for such services following the pandemic, as well as extra cost of living rises.

The charity says its main costs are staffing, travel and buildings including rent and utilities.

Marlene Ferris BEM

Marlene Ferris BEM, who manages Newark Women’s Aid, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “Whilst the three per cent uplift is very much appreciated, in reality, it will just about cover the increased cost of employers National Insurance”.

Ms Ferris, from Lowdham, herself a survivor of domestic violence, received the British Empire Medal for services to victims of domestic abuse earlier this year.

She said: “Our fuel costs alone have increased by £12,000 this year, and that is before the next increase in October.

 “During the lockdowns, we saw a huge increase in the number of calls for advice, support and refuge accommodation.
“It was very difficult to find refuge spaces for women and children, with no movement in refuge, and a lack of suitable move-on housing available throughout the country.
“The number of refuge referrals remains high and we don’t see that changing, as the current financial pressures, with the increased costs of food, fuel, clothing transport, etc puts added pressure on already struggling relationships.”
She added the service is “grateful and very lucky” to have great support from the local community with food, clothing and toiletries for the refuge.
She added: “It is essential that specialist services already providing safe supported accommodation for survivors of domestic violence continue to receive funding, to enable them to continue providing these life-saving services.”

Council papers stated that by offering an uplift in funding over two years,  domestic abuse providers will be able to offer salary increases “to retain the qualified staff and aid recruitment”.

The council considered remodelling domestic abuse services instead of the uplift in funding – but officers said this “will not address the immediate pressures that services are experiencing presently”.

“These costs have all increased considerably in the last 6 months and are expected to rise further within this financial year (2022-23) and the next (2023-24), creating a significant cost pressure on the service’s budgets”, council documents stated.

They add: “This is especially problematic over the next year with the rise in National Insurance (NI) contributions and the increased cost of fuel and other living expenses currently being absorbed by providers of refuge accommodation and support services.”

Council documents add that the Police and Crime Commissioner is also considering whether to match the inflationary uplift.

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