- Area:
- East of England
- Programme:
- Reaching Communities
- Release date:
- 13 3 2012
A women’s refuge in Essex has received £290,665 from the Big Lottery Fund (BIG) to expand its project for survivors of domestic violence.
Colchester and Tendring Women’s Refuge received the funding today from BIG’s Reaching Communities programme, which aims to help those most in need and build stronger communities.
The project by the refuge will develop the current outreach service, including the number of one-to-one visits. There is currently a waiting list for counselling services, especially in Tendring, and the funding will increase the number of women receiving counselling and group therapeutic support, provide dedicated telephone support and introduce quarterly domestic abuse awareness raising workshops.
Life skills workshops will be introduced including DIY, home economics, IT, access to learning and confidence building. Childcare will be provided for women who may not otherwise be able to attend the programmes. More than 2,000 women and their children will benefit as a result of the project.
A mother called Linda* was helped by the centre after separating from her husband because of his violent background and behaviour. He sent threats by text, constantly followed her, banged on the doors and windows, shouted threats through the letterbox and slashed tyres on her car.
She said: “I became frightened for my life and the life of my son. Eventually, I was forced to give up the job I loved and moved into the Colchester refuge. I had lost everything to this abuser, my job, my home, my family and friends.
“At the refuge I began on the road to recovery. With the support of the outreach services I was able to find new accommodation and my boy settled into his new school. I still felt very lonely as I knew no-one in the area but my outreach worker visited me regularly and encouraged me to start attending the refuge outreach centre. At the centre I completed a course of one-to-one counselling and attended programmes which helped me understand the effects of the abuse and gave me the tools I needed to move on with my life.
“Although I miss my family and old friends dreadfully, I have made new friends and regained my confidence. I am now looking forward to returning to work. The refuge services have given me a new life.”
Sara Betsworth, Big Lottery Fund’s Head of the East of England region, said: “Domestic violence can have a devastating effect on families. This funding will help women and children in this part of Essex live safer and healthier lives, as well as take steps forward towards living happier, independent lives within their own communities.”
*Linda’s name has been changed to protect her identity. She is available for telephone interviews.
Further Information
Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 020 7211 1888
Out of hours media contact: 07867 500 572
Full details of the Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available on the website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Ask BIG a question here: https://ask.biglotteryfund.org.uk
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Notes to Editors
- The Big Lottery Fund (BIG), the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding, is responsible for giving out 46% of the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery.
- BIG is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK. Since June 2004 BIG has awarded over £4.4bn.
- The Fund was formally established by Parliament on 1 December 2006.
- Since the National Lottery began in 1994, 28p from every pound spent by the public has gone to good causes. As a result, over £27 billion has now been raised and more than 370,000 grants awarded across arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment.
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