----- Original
Message -----
From: Julie.Dennis@essex.pnn.police.uk
To: dave.mortimer@mensaid.com
Sent: Monday, August 21, 2006 9:09 AM
Subject: Information for Southend-on-Sea
Dear Mr. Mortimer
I am writing in
response to your email to SMAART for information regarding funding
provided directly or indirectly by the Council to help and support
groups for male and female victims of domestic violence and their
children.
The Council, through
its voluntary sector grants programme funds a Child Advocate post
at the Women’s Refuge run by Southend Women’s Aid. In
2005/06 this amounted to £20,586. Southend Women’s Aid
also receive funding from the Council’s Children & Learning
department for two further posts; a Nursery Manager and a Child &
Youth Co-ordinator. In 2005/06 funding for these two posts amounted
to £33,562.
Southend’s Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP)
made a contribution of £10,422 in 2005/06 towards the salary
of a Women’s Safety Worker employed by the Probation Service
as part of the Integrated Domestic Abuse Programme (IDAP) working
with repeat perpetrators of domestic violence across the county of
Essex. The Worker works with the victims to support them while the
perpetrator attends the IDAP programme.
The CDRP provided
a further £10,425 in 2005/06 towards the delivery of training
for professionals, awareness raising sessions, drama workshops in
schools and other education and awareness raising projects. None of
this money directly or indirectly benefits support groups but the
education and awareness activities would benefit both male and female
victims.
In addition the
Home Office grant £30,000 towards the salary of Southend’s
Domestic Violence Coordinator, which again benefits all victims whatever
their gender. This funding will cease in March 2007.
For information Southend’s CDRP funded a research project a
couple of years ago and the results suggested that in Southend
87% of victims of domestic violence were female, and 92% of offenders
were male.
84% of incidents involved a male offender and female victim
8% involved a male offender and male victim
2% involved a female offender and female victim
6% involved a female offender and male victim.
It is recognised that domestic violence is often unreported - whether
it involves male or female victims or offenders.
Southend Domestic Violence Forum defines domestic violence in a non-gender
specific manner and all activities run by the Southend-on-Sea Domestic
Violence Forum are aimed equally at male and female victims of domestic
violence.
Male victims of domestic violence in Southend are offered the same
publicly available services as female victims of domestic violence.
Gender specific services are also available through Women's Aid.
Southend Womens' Aid also receive grant funding for the Wingspan project
from Central Government via the Southend Children's Fund. This is
also not specifically to fund a help or support group, but funds a
10 week programme of support for children (of both sexes) and their
mothers. This funding will expire in March 2008.
I am not aware of any other funding for domestic violence help or
support groups in the Borough.
Yours sincerely
Paul Toms
Southend-on-Sea Borough Council
PO Box 6
Victoria Avenue
Southend-on-Sea
Essex
SS2 6ER
01702 215188
paultoms@southend.gov.uk
