A DOMESTIC violence ‘One Stop Shop’ for South Essex is set to go ahead after a successful £500,000 funding bid.
The funding comes from the DCLG (Department for Communities and Local
Government) after a successful joint bid led by Basildon Borough Council.
The money will fund two domestic violence coordinators who will be employed
on a secondment basis to help set up the One Stop Shop and formulate bids
for future funding to ensure the project remains viable in the future.
The funding will also go towards 28 refuge spaces which would have
otherwise been lost.
Basildon Council’s partners in the bid included: Thurrock Borough Council,
SERICC (South Essex Rape and Incest Crisis Centre), Changing Pathways,
Castle Point Borough Council, Rochford District Council, Brentwood Borough
Council, Basildon and Thurrock Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) and Essex
Police which supported the project.
Cllr Anthony Hedley, Basildon Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing and
Community Safety, said: “This is a terrific joint effort from all involved
and shows what can be achieved with effective partnership working.
“This money will go a long way in keeping victims of domestic violence safe
from harm across South Essex.”
The One Stop Shop will involve staff from housing, CAB, domestic violence
co-ordinators and Essex Police attending one day per week and taking a
collaborative approach to tackling the issue.
Those fleeing or requiring advice about domestic violence issues will be
seen and their issues often dealt with in a single day without the need for
repeat signposting to other services.
Basildon Council will now work with partners to set up the One Stop Shop in
an agreed South Essex location in the next few months.
