A comprehensive review of domestic abuse and sexual assault services on the Isle of Wight will help to meet residents’ needs.
It comes as the Isle of Wight council approves a new multi-million-pound contract to provide the integrated services for the next seven years.
You Trust contract
On the Island, the services give specialist help including safe accommodation; outreach support; training and counselling as well as programme options for perpetrators.
The current contract is delivered by You Trust at an annual cost of £315,112 a year.
It is funded by the Isle of Wight council, government grants and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner.
Peacey-Wilcox: Really impressed with the team
Speaking at the cabinet meeting last week, Cllr Lora Peacey-Wilcox said following a visit to You Trust, she was really impressed with the team who were caring and going over and above to help the Island.
The new contract will start from 1st October 2023, and run for five years, with the potential to extend it for two further single years at a cost of up to £350,000 a year.
£2.5m for seven years
Over the potential seven-year time frame, the council has set aside up to £2,500,000.
Before the new contract starts, the council’s newly appointed domestic abuse team will lead a needs assessment on the Island to determine where and what is needed.
Where the money will be spent
The Isle of Wight council’s cabinet also approved where government funding would be spent in the next year to support the delivery of domestic abuse duties.
More than £292,000 will be spent on safe accommodation units, training, staffing and the development of a survivor voice forum.
Love: Government done more harm to local authorities than I have ever seen in my life
Cabinet member for adult social care and public health, Cllr Karl Love, expressed his concerns about any potential government funding in the future due to events in parliament.
He said,
“We cannot see what the future funding is given the terrible events recently.
“The government has done more harm to local authorities than I have ever seen in my life.”
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
