Councils commit £1.5m to domestic abuse service

North and West Northamptonshire Council plan to spend about £1.5m a year to provide support for people escaping domestic abuse

Two councils have earmarked an estimated £1.5m a year to deliver safe accommodation and support for domestic abuse survivors.

The funding would be split between North and West Northamptonshire councils and would secure refuge spaces and a range of wraparound services, with the current contract due to end in 2026.

Currently, 51 refuge units were provided through partnerships with Eve and Northamptonshire Domestic Abuse Service (NDAS). In 2023/24, these services received more than 500 referrals.

A council report, which will be discussed at North Northamptonshire Council next week, described domestic abuse as a "pervasive issue" with "serious and long-lasting impacts" on health.

Of the 51 refuge bed spaces, 36 are in West Northamptonshire and 15 are in North Northamptonshire

About 10,400 women in the north of the county were estimated to experience domestic abuse each year, according to figures set out in the report.

The new service would include women-only, men-only, specialist substance misuse and multicultural accommodation.

Other services, such as therapeutic support for adults and children, helplines, counselling and awareness training, were also expected to be included.

Eve and NDAS have been operating under a rolling annual grant since 2021, but the councils now said there was a need for a more formal and robust arrangement.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service reported that the new contract would run for three years, with an option to extend by two further years.

Funding will come from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government's Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation Grant.

West Northamptonshire Council will lead supplier engagement on behalf of both unitary authorities, with a full tender process scheduled to begin by the end of August.