Nottingham domestic abuse plan shared across country

A plan to support survivors of domestic abuse created by Nottingham City Council will now be used as a template for other areas across the UK.

The authority published a Safe Accommodation Strategy 2012-24, which sets out how it will provide housing support services to survivors and their children, fulfilling a statutory requirement for all councils under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

The Council worked with survivors, specialist charities, housing departments and other partners to write the plan, which includes ideas to improve safety for survivors and children who are able to stay at home with extra security, providing more children’s workers in refuge settings, additional counselling for survivors and children, and funding a volunteer coordinator for the existing pet fostering service, meaning children get their pet back when they move into a permanent home.

Domestic abuse is the third most common cause of homelessness in Nottingham, and almost 90% of domestic murders in the city since 2012 have taken place in the home of the victim or perpetrator.

Cllr Neghat Khan, portfolio holder for neighbourhoods, safety and inclusion at Nottingham City Council, said: ‘We understand the harrowing experience of survivors of domestic violence and the impact on their children. In many cases, this means moving out of a family home for their own safety, which must be a terrible thing for them to go through.

‘Our new strategy will enable us to plan with partners to meet the needs of these survivors and children, particularly as their numbers have increased during the pandemic. The number of callers to the women’s domestic and sexual violence and abuse helpline in Nottingham increased from an average of 10,000 calls a year to 17,000 calls during the pandemic.

‘This has been an important piece of work which I hope will make a real difference to the lives of affected people across the city and county. I’m proud that the Government has acknowledged not only this, but now plans to use our document as a starting point for other local authorities around the country.’

Photo by Benjamin Manley