Domestic abuse charity may shut
AHYNDBURN domestic abuse charity has said it might have to close its doors following the Police and Crime Commissioner’s decision to award a £6.6m contract to provide the services to a national charity.
From April next year, Victim Support will start a three-year contract to deliver Lancashire Victim Services and Nest Lancashire - services for young crime victims, as well as specialist support for those who have experienced domestic abuse, sexual violence and hate crime.
Victim Support will provide services from four local bases across Lancashire.
The pan-Lancashire consortium, Safer Together, of which Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Domestic Violence Team (HARV) was a member, was unsuccessful in its bid. The decision follows a legal tender process undertaken following consultation with victims, local providers and partners across the county earlier this year.
But Debbie Fawcett, CEO of HARV, said the decision means they will lose around £200,000 of funding, which means losing eight out of 15 of their staff.
She said: “Everyone is devastated at the decision. It will drastically change what we can deliver. We use qualified staff who support very high-risk victims.”
She added: “If we’d been failing, okay, but they’ve just gone to someone cheaper.
“The new service won’t enhance the service we already provide, it will destroy it as people won’t give us grants anymore when others are providing the service.”
But PCC Clive Grunshaw defended the new arrangements, saying: “Services will continue to be of the highest quality and will be delivered locally.
“Specialist services will ensure expert support for the most vulnerable in our communities, to provide counselling and help with recovery. This will enhance the domestic abuse provision already supported by my office.”
A PCC spokesperson added: “Without this contract there would be no funding for domestic abuse service provision in Lancashire and this contract is actually saving and mainstreaming the approach to secure its future.
“This was not the cheapest bid, it was the one that provided both high levels of quality and the best value for money.”