Home Office awards £357,000 for Devon project tackling violence against women and girls

A new £17m Government initiative tackling violence against women and girls will see Devon County Council receive £357,000.

The fund will go towards a project aimed at ensuring people in positions of care are helped to identify early signs of domestic violence and give them the knowledge of how to intervene.

As well as this, the project also aims to identify and work with perpetrators of domestic violence who may have difficulties with substance misuse and mental health.

The project will be delivered in partnership with a variety of groups, including Torbay Council, Devon and Cornwall Police, and Torbay and South Devon Clinical Commissioning Group Rape Crisis Unit.

Cllr Roger Croad, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for domestic violence services, said:  “This Home Office funding will be a major step towards helping our partnership to achieve its ambition to end domestic and sexual violence and abuse.

“The funding will enable us to intervene earlier with victims, interrupting the cycle of abuse, and help us connect victims with the support they need to break free of violence and abuse.

“We cannot end domestic and sexual violence and abuse without identifying and working with those who perpetrate it. This funding will help us to do that and bring about lasting changes in the behaviour of perpetrators.”