New funding given to victim support services to help with cost-of-living pressures

The funding will help local organisations that support victims and survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence

Local organisations that support victims and survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence are to be given new funding, the Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester has announced.

Locally, the Rochdale Women’s Welfare Association, Rochdale Connections Trust, Victim Support in Rochdale and WHAG will receive funding.

The funding will help organisations respond to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, aiding them to continue to provide support to those accessing their services over the winter months.

Speaking about the announcement, Kate Green, Deputy Mayor for Policing, Crime, Criminal Justice and Fire said: “I’m happy that we’re able to allocate this funding to our local organisations to help with rising costs due to the cost-of-living crisis.

“Over what can be difficult winter months, this funding will help them continue their good work to support victims and survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence.

“We remain committed to keeping people safe, supporting victims and survivors, and continuing to tackle gender-based violence and abuse in all its forms.”

The funding has been provided in part by the Ministry of Justice through the victims’ core grant funding. The money will go towards practical measures, such as care packages, additional capacity within services, peer mentor sessions, group counselling, costs to support people accessing services and interpreter costs.

Organisations that will receive funding responded to an expression of interest process which specified prioritised support for communities of identity, no recourse to public funds, older people and people with disabilities.

The funding started reaching organisations in December 2022, to ensure help and provision was available over the holiday period.