Nottinghamshire police chief announces new funding to help abuse victims

The funding has been announced by Paddy Tipping, the Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC).

The PCC has been provisionally allocated £390,000 from the Ministry of Justice as part of a £750 million fund from the Government to expand the services of domestic abuse and sexual violence support providers during the pandemic.

Funding will be provided for the period of March 24 to October 31 and to be eligible organisations must deliver specialist support services which are designed to help domestic abuse and sexual violence victims cope with the impacts of crime and recover from the harm they have experienced.

Mr Tipping said: “Covid-19 has presented us all with difficult and testing situations but far more so for vulnerable women, men and children who are living with abuse or the constant threat of violence.

“Opportunities to seek help or safety have been restricted during lockdown with victims confined with their abuser for weeks on end.

“Clearly, there has been a need to tailor support to reach the most vulnerable for whom there is nowhere else to turn.

Funding is available in three streams – domestic abuse services already commissioned by the PCC (£195,000), domestic abuse services not currently commissioned by the PCC (£97,500) and sexual violence support services either commissioned or not currently commissioned by the PCC (£97,500)

In addition, the PCC is applying to the Ministry of Justice for rape support fund extraordinary funding, which is only available to the two organisations that currently receive the fund.

The PCC will be contacting those organisations separately to explain any opportunities for additional support from this fund.

The deadline for applications is June 1.

For more details, click here.