DOMESTIC abuse hubs have opened in a bid to provide more support to victims across South Essex.
The launch of the South Essex Domestic Abuse Hubs follows a successful joint funding bid, led by Basildon Council, at the start of the year in which the DCLG (Department for Communities and Local Government) awarded the scheme £500,000.
The money is funding a domestic violence coordinator who will be employed on a secondment basis to help run the hubs 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 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 Gavin Callaghan, Basildon Council’s Chairman of the Policy and Resources committee, said: “Domestic abuse is a serious problem and can affect people from all areas of our community. One in four women and one in 6 men will be victims and it’s not just physical abuse, it can be mental, emotional, sexual, financial control or harassment.
“These hubs are a big step towards keeping victims of domestic abuse safe from harm and are an example of what can be achieved when partners work together.
“But that isn’t all we can do. I’m committed to raising awareness of the different guises of domestic abuse and making sure that people know there is help available – and how they can access it.”
South Essex Domestic Abuse Hubs have been set up in various locations across the South Essex partnership. Staff from a number of services including housing, Citizen’s Advice, Changing Pathways, Essex Police and the domestic abuse co-ordinator will work collaboratively tackling the issues that people face.
The hubs enable those fleeing or requiring advice regarding domestic abuse issues to be seen and their issues often dealt with in a single day without the need for repeat signposting to other services.
Hubs are available at Rochford District Council every other Monday, Basildon Council every Tuesday and at Thurrock Council every Friday.
For details about the times and locations of each hub please contact Changing Pathways on 01268 729707.
For more information on the help available for victims of domestic abuse please visit www.basildon.gov.uk/domesticabuse
