Specialist support for victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence from minority backgrounds is set to expand thanks to £132k of additional funding secured by Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen.
The County Durham and Darlington PCC already commissions domestic abuse charity HALO Project to provide safeguarding and culturally appropriate confidential advice and support to Black and Minoritised women and girls who are at risk or are survivors of domestic and sexual violence and abuse.
This includes help to women to search for safe accommodation, outreach support, safety planning and ongoing trauma-informed support to those who have suffered or are at risk.
Over the past year, HALO has experienced increasing requests for support from victims of minority backgrounds in supported accommodation and refuge.
As a result, the PCC and Durham County Council agreed to extend the reach of the service in response to the increased demand.
The new arrangement will see the PCC funding one full time equivalent support worker from funds she secured from the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) while the county council has stepped in to provide the equivalent of half a full-time support worker.
The contract will run for an initial two years with the potential for a third year, which has been welcomed by those running the project.
The PCC has long prioritised sexual violence and domestic abuse across the county, supporting an array of projects and services to prevent domestic abuse and sexual violence and to support victims through funding she receives by the MOJ.
In her new Police, Crime and Justice Plan, sexual violence and domestic abuse are key priorities under the Safer People Safer Places theme, with the PCC setting out a series of commitments to improve support. These include:
Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen said: “The support provided by HALO not only save lives but transforms lives. I’m proud to be working with the county council to expand this vital support and help more survivors navigate the complex and debilitating pain caused by domestic abuse and sexual violence.
“Victims of these appalling crimes deserve the very best care possible to support recovery. I hope this joint investment reassures all survivors that we will walk with them through every step of their journey as they rebuild their lives, heal and reclaim control.
“There is clearly a strong need for this service. Demand over the past year has shown this. Victims are front and centre of my Police, Crime and Justice Plan and I will do everything possible to make sure they always receive a first-class service.”
Yasmin Khan, Chief Executive of the Halo Project, said: “We continually see an increase in disclosures and reports of abuse and harm from women and girls in the Durham and Darlington area. As such we see reports and cases of unmet needs for black and minoritised women and migrant women, so we are delighted with the additional funding to prevent, protect and support more survivors. They turn to us as there is simply no other specialist victim service in the region which is culturally specific to their needs.
“We welcome the opportunity to further collaborate with the local authority partners, PCC and Domestic Abuse strategic partners so that we can influence policy and practice to meet the needs of all victims.”
Julia Bates, Consultant in Public Health at Durham County Council, said: “If you are a survivor or at risk of sexual violence or domestic abuse, please know that you are not alone. There is support out there, regardless of your age, background, gender, sexuality or when the abuse took place.
“The Halo Project is incredibly important as it provides culturally appropriate and confidential advice and support to members of our communities who can face additional barriers to seeking help. We hope the expansion of this service will enable more victims to access the support they need to transform their lives.”
Feedback from those who have used the service has been extremely positive, with survivors feeling safer, more optimistic and saying their quality of life had improved.
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