The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner is urging organisations that help victims of crime, to apply to him for money.
David Jamieson is encouraging organisations across the West Midlands to submit applications to his ‘Victims Fund’, which helps pay for support services for people traumatised by criminal activity.
The Victims Fund will open on 1st February 2019 and will be taking application from agencies through to 18th March 2019.
This year there is £200,000 available.
The competitive fund, commissioned by the Police and Crime Commissioner, seeks to improve outcomes for victims of crime across the West Midlands
The money will be spent offering help to victims of domestic violence, sexual abuse, volume crime, child sexual exploitation, female genital mutilation, forced marriage and honour based violence, hate crime, fatal road traffic collisions and modern slavery.
Individual funding of up to £20,000 is available for each voluntary or community organisation that helps support victims to cope and recover from their experiences. Groups can apply on their own or they can join together and form a partnership.
Recipients of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Victim’s Fund have already helped directly support victims of crime.
In 2017, The Churches Housing Association of Dudley and District refuge (CHADD) received funding for their project “It’s Never Too Late – Domestic Abuse and Older People”.
Nationally and regionally, there are increasing numbers of older people who are victims of domestic abuse and domestic homicide. Often older people can isolated and alone after they have made the decision to leave the abusive environment, which can then lead to them returning to the abuse.
Funding provided to CHADD helped provide specialist refuge services for older people, providing those who have been victims of domestic abuse with fully furnished specialist refuge accommodation.
The funding also provided specialist outreach support to other victims in the local community; and awareness/training events around the hidden issue of domestic abuse and older people for local groups, volunteers and professionals.
The Victim’s Fund has enabled CHADD to offer a service tailor made for older generations and Dudley now has a home to facilitate resettlement and recovery for older victims of domestic abuse.
The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, David Jamieson said: “Supporting victims of crime is one of my top priorities as PCC.
“We now have a formidable record of helping victims of crime. This funding has been making a real difference to people’s lives since 2014 and I’m delighted to say it will continue to do so.
“I would urge people to get their applications in.”
Chief Executive Officer, Anna Walsh added: “Funding from the Police and Crime Commissioner for ‘It’s Never Too Late’ gave us the opportunity to pilot a dedicated domestic abuse IDVA service in the Dudley Borough.
“Following the launch in 2017, we have seen a significant increase in referrals and have been able to successfully and effectively support elderly victims of domestic abuse.
“The pilot has specifically targeted those aged 55 years and above, enabling us to provide awareness training, outreach support and refuge accommodation.”
