For more than a decade Worcester Community Trust’s DAWN project has been providing targeted support to victims and survivors of domestic abuse in the community. The project’s current funding comes to an end in March. We are asking for support from the local community via donations to our Crowdfunder.
In the UK, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men experience domestic abuse in their lifetime. This can include controlling, coercive, manipulating, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour. Here in Worcestershire, West Mercia police estimate that there are 22,000 incidents of domestic abuse every year.
As the only face-to-face, community-based service of this kind in the region, DAWN enables survivors to make informed choices and decisions to move towards changes, equipping them with the tools and knowledge to live free from abuse.
Helen Davis, interim CEO at Worcester Community Trust said,
“From 31st March this year, DAWN will be in receipt of significantly less funding than it has been for the past four years. We are therefore having to reduce the level of support we can offer. This means increases in waiting times, escalation in risk of those waiting, and a reduction in the number of victims and survivors we can support.
“We are doing everything we can to secure the future of DAWN including working with local MPs to appeal for changes in the way community-based domestic abuse services are funded across the UK, and working with our current funders to secure new funding.
“In the meantime, we hope that the local community can come together and get behind this Crowdfunder, to help ensure we can continue with DAWN’s vital work until more sustainable funding can be obtained.
“Just £500 can help support an individual or family to live free from abuse.”
Tom Collins, Labour MP for Worcester is supporting Worcester Community Trust in finding long-term sustainable funding for DAWN.
“The DAWN project is doing incredible work and is desperately needed in Worcestershire. It’s vital that we take serious action to tackle our huge crisis of domestic violence. Nobody should ever have to live in fear or at risk of violence, and while the government has set itself the mission to halve violence against women and girls, we need local projects to deliver support too.
“I’m desperate to see the DAWN project survive and grow, and I’m ready to work to find long-term funding. If you’re a local person or business, please donate to this campaign – we have the power to save lives and transform futures right here in Worcester”
The Crowdfunder follows an urgent call put forward by Worcester City Council’s Champion for Personal Safety and Civility, Cllr Sarah Murray, Liberal Democrat, last year to ensure continued funding for DAWN. The motion drew attention to the “postcode lottery” survivors face in accessing community-based domestic abuse support, as highlighted in the Domestic Abuse Commissioner’s report, *A Patchwork of Provision*. It stressed the life-saving importance of local, face-to-face services like DAWN.
Support from DAWN for male and female victims and survivors of domestic abuse can include safety planning, support in accessing housing, benefits advice, debt advice and legal services, support in regaining financial independence, support at criminal and family courts, referrals to other specialist services and sessions aimed at building confidence and self-esteem.
The Crowdfunder is running for four weeks until Friday 21st March. To support DAWN and make a donation visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/dawn