Recovery charities across Nottinghamshire are to share more than £584k as part of an emergency fund to support victims of violence throughout the pandemic.
Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping applied to the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) for urgent funding to help domestic abuse and sexual violence support services cope with soaring demand during the coronavirus.
Acknowledging the immense strain on providers, the PCC said it was imperative every victim needing help received it and that there were no barriers to recovery during the lockdown.
Nottinghamshire has now received £220,661 to support domestic abuse services already commissioned by the PCC and £95,483 for domestic abuse services not currently commissioned by the PCC.
A further £154,727 has been allocated to the county for sexual violence support services either commissioned or not currently commissioned by the PCC while an extra £113,597 has been allocated for the organisations currently funded by the Rape Support Fund. In Nottinghamshire, the Rape Support Fund has been devolved locally to allow local spending decisions according to need.
Among the domestic abuse support providers to benefit from the emergency funding are Juno Women’s Aid which has been allocated £155,404 towards the cost of additional equipment for remote working, staffing costs and an increase in resources for the Children and Teen Service and Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid which will receive £41,329 to cover increased staffing costs during the pandemic, additional equipment costs and the recruitment of new workers.
Meanwhile, Nottinghamshire Sexual Violence Support Services (NSVSS) has been allocated £163,078 towards the cost of equipment for remote working, additional staffing hours and clinical supervision.
Announcing the funding, Mr Tipping said: “Through this emergency funding, we can support more victims of abuse and violence throughout the pandemic, including those who are seeking help for the very first time.
“The lockdown has put many victims and survivors at additional risk of harm and it is vital we have the qualified professionals in place to intervene.
“Recovery providers have been working around the clock to adapt their support services to the meet new health regulations and to offer new ways of reaching those who have limited safe opportunities to get help. These changes have brought additional costs and many have to recruit new staff to meet demand.
“This funding will help reassure providers during these unprecedented times but I’m also conscious that help will be needed long after this funding ends and will do whatever I can to secure further support to meet the needs of victims post-pandemic.”
The MoJ is investing £750m into third sector organisations which support vulnerable people across the UK to help providers meet increased demand during the coronavirus.
The funding must be used by 31 October 2020 and grants must deliver support services during the pandemic, helping victims to cope with the impact of crime and recover from the harm they have experienced.
