Domestic violence charity Southampton Women's aid facing cash crisis

Southampton Women's Aid (SWA) has not received a vital grant from the council which had been used to fund services that support victims of domestic abuse and accounts for around 40 per cent of their running costs.

A combination of administrative errors while applying for the grant and a change in the way Southampton City Council gives out funding led to the money not being awarded to the charity.

SWA have assured people who use their charity that they will continue to provide services for the foreseeable future but must now call upon the community to help support them.

The charity, which has been operating for more than 40-years, provides one to one support for women and children, as well as operating a hotline and a 14 week course to help victims of domestic abuse and violence.

Julie Conduct, the adult and child workforce administrator for SWA, said: "We are trying to replace the funding we have lost, and secure the future of our vital service, but we urgently need to find funding to get through the next 12 months."

SWA did not receive their annual grant after the council changed the way it gives out funding and an administrative error on the charity's part meant a joint bid between them and another charity fell through.

Shannon Revel, one of the charity's trustees, said: "There was going to be a joint bid but that did not happen and the reasons for that are administrative, but that bid did not get processed.

"The council changing the way is provides grants contributed but it was not a make or break for the bid.

"It is such a shame that it happened but in any event we will still provide these vital services.

"If we got no amount of support at all, perhaps in a year's time it would diminish the amount of people we would be able to help."

The charity currently provides services to more that 400 people a year throughout the city and they still receive cash from donors to help keep them afloat, but Miss Revel said if all their funding stopped the amount of people they could help in a year's time may be cut to around 200.

In a statement Southampton City Council said: "Southampton Women’s Aid was in receipt of grant funding from the council, which ended on 31 March 2016. It previously held a contract with the council, which ended on 31 October 2015.

"New domestic abuse and sexual violence services were commissioned by the council in 2015, incorporating the funding previously awarded to Southampton Women’s Aid (and other organisations) in both grants and contracts. This has enabled Southampton City Council and partners to re-commission services within the voluntary sector with a new focus on prevention and early intervention.

"This approach has facilitated an increase in provision and help for victims of Domestic Abuse and their children, delivered by a collaboration of local voluntary organisations that will reach many more adults and children.

"The new contract began on 1 November 2015, with the grant funding phasing in from 1 April 2016. Southampton Women’s Aid was aware of the commissioning opportunity and was invited to a Southampton Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Bidder’s Day event in February 2015 as a precursor of the re-tendering, but it did not bid for these services.

"However, the council and partners will continue to work with Southampton Women’s Aid and support them on areas such as referrals, joint publicity and communications."

To raise money to support SWA, the charity are now holding a Charity Gala and to celebrate the service.

It takes place at the Hilton Hotel in the Ageas Bowl on Friday June 24 from 7pm to 12.30am.

For tickets email julie@southamptonwomensaid.org.uk or call 023 8033 8881.