GMCA has secured over £680,000 of funding from the Home Office to help provide services that support some of the most vulnerable women and girls across the city-region, including those who have been victim of domestic abuse, rape and other sexual offences.
The money is being allocated to five different organisations already working across the city-region to support women and girls; Safety4Sisters, NESTAC, Olive Pathway, Rochdale Women’s Welfare Association, and Saheli. All of whom are led by women within Black, Asian and minority communities.
The lack of provision for women who have no recourse to public funds has been highlighted by the Domestic Abuse Commissioner. It means without vital services like these, these women have nowhere else to turn and are often forced to return to their abuser. This is something which has a disproportionate impact on Black, Asian and minority communities.
Work will begin immediately to create a hub for services for women with complex issues to be responded to by one team, making it easier to access advice from specialist services.
This is part of a £8.3 million Home Office fund being provided to organisations across England and Wales to support victims of crimes including domestic abuse, rape and other sexual offences. It aims to fund frontline and specialist support projects for victims and survivors over two years, including counselling, training and community outreach.
It will support Greater Manchester’s ongoing work to help keep women and girls safe through the Greater Manchester Gender-Based Violence Strategy
Deputy Mayor for Policing, Crime, Criminal Justice and Fire, Kate Green, said: “The abuse of women and girls is deep-rooted in gender inequality and addressing this is a major priority for us in Greater Manchester. This is why we launched our Gender-Based Violence Strategy, which makes a clear commitment to make life safer for all women and girls in Greater Manchester.
“As well as driving behaviour change and addressing the issues women and girls face head-on, we must have a big focus on supporting those who have been impacted by gender-based violence. I’m really pleased we have been successful in securing this money from the Home Office, as it will go a long way to help some of our most vulnerable residents, including women that so often go under the radar and struggle to find the help that they so desperately need.
“This particular funding will be allocated to organisations which are led by people within our Black, Asian and minority communities in Greater Manchester. They are based within in communities, and have the relationships and knowledge to make a real difference to the lives of those who need them most.”
A Safety4Sisters spokesperson said: “Safety4Sisters welcome this funding, which will allow us to work in partnership with a number of other specialist services to ensure that Black and minoritised women and girls on the very edges of exclusion have access to equitable and effective support, specifically migrant women with no recourse to public funds.”
