Charity welcomes £750k for domestic abuse outreach

The Peacock Project, launched on Wednesday, will be run by Peterborough Women's Aid

A charity that works with domestic abuse victims has welcomed £750,000 of funding towards a new city support service.

The Peacock Project is being launched on Wednesday and will be run by Peterborough Women's Aid (PWA).

It will enable PWA's community outreach team to expand its service to victims in Peterborough, as well as provide counselling, emotional support and debt management.

There were about 7,000 victims of domestic abuse in Peterborough in 2022 to 2023, according to the crime survey for England and Wales.

The scheme is part of Peterborough City Council's Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation Strategy.

The local authority anticipates 250 people subjected to domestic abuse would be helped each year by the service, which is for Peterborough residents.

Peacock is an acronym for protect, empower, advocate, courage, overcome, confidence and knowledge.

'Dreadful consequences'

The funding comes from a Safe Accommodation grant provided by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and will be offered over three years, with a possible extension for two years.

Chief executive of PWA, Mandy Geraghty, said the charity was delighted.

"Any victim who is supported through the Peacock Project will be able to access a range of PWA services including our Women's Centre, support groups, translation services and cultural coffee mornings," she explained.

"Our support is never time bound.

Peterborough City Council leader Shabina Qayyum said: "This funding will help continue and expand the charity's work in enabling victims who need help to escape the dreadful consequences of abuse and harm, and hopefully move on in their lives."

Next month the council is also launching training for night-time businesses in Peterborough to help prevent sexual harassment and abuse of women and girls.