A charity that helps victims of domestic violence is facing an uncertain future after more than half of its funding was slashed.
There are fears that the Rochdale Inter-Agency Domestic Violence Forum, which runs the Omega Women's Centre, could eventually shut down after one of its funding lifelines was cut by 55 per cent last year, resulting in two redundancies from its management team.
Instead of £100,000, the charity received £45,000 from the council's Supporting People budget.
The charity is now waiting to find out how much it will receive from the council this year.
Its only guaranteed annual funding for 2012 to 2013 is £20,000 from the Ministry of Justice and money from the council's community safety budget which has yet to be announced. But this is not enough for the charity to keep running in its current format.
The service is now in talks with the council and Victim Support, the charity that provides support to victims of crime, about the possibility of Victim Support taking on two of its remaining four members of staff.
Trustee and treasurer Stephanie Thornton said: "This isn't enough to keep us going in our current state.
"We are now speaking with Victim Support because we believe that they may be able to take on two of our four staff.
"But things are all still up in the air.
"We accept that things can't stay the same and that projects need to work together."
Omega Women's Centre, based at Blue Pit Mill in Castleton, provides emotional support and advice to victims of domestic violence.
It runs a confidential telephone and email service, it provides a support group and helps victims to find a solicitor, make statements to police, attend court, find emergency accommodation and make their homes more secure.
Ms Thornton added: "There is a fear that the charity could have to close because there isn't enough money.
"But that won't mean that there will be no service for women in Rochdale."
Jeanette Staley, safer communities manager at Rochdale council, said: "Following a significant decrease in council funding a number of reductions have been implemented.
"However we will continue to provide a support service for victims of domestic violence."
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The chief crown prosecutor for the North West has to be admired for his acumen and personal promotion about particular needs
http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1472222_1-in-7-calls-to-police-is-about-domestic-abuse-and-its-the-tip-of-the-iceberg
A specialized service is needed and One Cap Does Not Fit All in victim support.
For a safer communities manager to report that “a” service will continue to be provided almost suggests a Make Do approach for this awful problem. Hope Ms Thornton keeps her momentum on looking for alternatives and funding.
Cutting specialist services is a frightening example of False Economy.
Is anything being done to measure the disproportionate impact on Women’s Services, or to try and pool the very few trained human resources that ARE left in Rochdale? Sweeping cuts across this sector in police, housing and welfare puts victims of domestic and sexual violence at risk of further abuse.
Practitioners believe we will see more tragedies, more homicides and lots more women and children living in violent situations.
Has this Local Authority or the Councillors got the bottle to Step Up on this one and insist we retain and re-form a quality service?
Apparently the government stated that ending violence against women and girls was an "absolute priority", publishing an action plan to end violence against women and girls, ring-fencing £28m for domestic violence services, and allocating £10.5m for rape crisis services, and £900,000 for domestic violence helplines. Is Rochdale the wrong Post Code area again, or didn’t anyone Lobby, or is this yet another “soft target” for our local Council Cuts?
Where can we all see the LOCAL action plan to end violence against women and girls ???????
14th February 2011 Hundreds sign Valentine’s card as a pledge to end domestic abuse!
http://www.rochdale.gov.uk/news_and_events/latest_news/february_2011/hundreds_sign_valentine%E2%80%99s_card.aspx
Less than a year on experienced support services and from Rochdale's 3rd-sector have shrunk. Coming forward (see: police Leaders quote in the above RMBC news link) can be desperately hard for victims, families and friends. Direct leap to the police is not the confidential advice or support route desperately needed by many.