Today, Minister for Safeguarding and Violence against Women and Girls, Jess Phillips announced a £20 million funding boost to victim services, including specialist services.

Responding to the announcement, Sam Smethers, CEO of Surviving Economic Abuse, said:

“Access to specialist support and financial help can be lifesaving for victim-survivors. We welcome the government’s funding boost for organisations supporting survivors and tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG).

“Economic abusers trap victim-survivors by controlling their money and resources, making it difficult for them to flee and rebuild their lives. The Flexible Fund and the Support for Migrant Victims Scheme offer vital financial help to survivors, giving them the means to escape and stay safe. We’re pleased they have been extended for another year. Now, we need a long-term commitment to ensure these vital lifelines continue to be there for the survivors who need them.

“To break the cycle of domestic abuse, economic abuse must be central to the government’s VAWG strategy. By working with specialists to drive systemic change, the government can prevent economic abusers from trapping victim-survivors and remove the barriers that stand in the way of survivors escaping. We hope this investment is just the beginning and that future funding reflects the government’s ambitions to halve VAWG in a decade. It will be a critical step towards stopping economic abuse for good.”

ENDS

For further information or to arrange an interview with a spokesperson, please contact the Surviving Economic Abuse press office on [email protected] / 07786 073249