Dales’ £30k pot to support violence victims
THE Derbyshire Dales will receive £32,383 from the Government to provide additional support for victims of domestic abuse and their children from April, the area’s MP has announced.
Sarah Dines says the extra funding will help victims and their children access life-saving support in safe accommodation, including advocacy, counselling, and therapy in safe locations such as refuges or specialist safe accommodation, where victims and their children can go to get away from their abusers.
In total, councils across England will receive £125 million as part of the scheme.
Under the duty, councils will be required to provide support to domestic abuse victims and their children within safe accommodation services, where needs have been identified.
It will come into force later this year with the passage of the landmark Domestic Abuse Bill, with funding announced in advance so local authorities know how much they will receive for these vital services and can begin to plan.
The funding is part of a wider package of support for victims of rape and domestic abuse, with a
£40 million funding boost for victim support services announced on February 1 building on the £76 million pledged last May to ensure services including refuges, helplines and counselling remain accessible throughout the pandemic.
Ms Dines said: “Domestic abuse is a devastating crime that ruins lives, which is why this Conservative Government’s commitment to empowering and protecting victims is so important.
“The £32,383 announced today for Derbyshire Dales will ensure that anyone who needs to access safe accommodation and the support services they need to recover and rebuild their lives will be able to do so, and is part of a wider package of support we have put in place for victims of rape and domestic abuse.
“In taking another big step towards helping break the cycle of domestic abuse and protecting some of the most vulnerable in our society, we are transforming our response to victims and will help them move forward with their lives.”
The FACTS about masks in supermarkets
1. It may be “law” – but security guards and supermarket staff CANNOT enforce it, and management run a mile from any confrontation.
2. People walk in without a mask and cannot be stopped, or asked to leave.
3. People claim they are exempt and cannot be stopped from entering, asthma being the usual claim but no doctor’s note is ever provided.
4. Staff who remind customers to wear a mask – including over their noses – are verbally abused. When reminded it is the law and they are on camera and can be fined £1,000, they react angrily. I have been close to stating, “It takes six months to potty train a baby, you should have learned to wear a mask correctly by now” – but I hold my tongue.
5. The police are not interested or too busy to deal with the issue.
6. Customers who refuse to wear a mask over their noses are the worst. If they cannot breathe then they should not be out shopping. Wear a visor if you have a beard, asthma or C.O.P.D.
I have been wearing a mask and sanitising hands since the end of February 2020, as I have read about the Spanish Influenza pandemic of 1918-19. I didn’t expect the death rate to be heading towards 150,000.
Doorstep deliveries for online have changed and, by and large, customers have been fine. We still get the occasional, frankly arrogant/ obnoxious, customer.
In the main, it has not been unknown for a driver to return to
store with the order – after all, why should we be sworn at? Verbally abused? Threatened?
When I started in the department, we were happy to take orders into the homes of those who are disabled, frail, etc and would offer to unpack for them, place frozen items into the freezer etc. Now we do not enter homes or blocks of flats. It is doorstep delivery only.
I and most drivers do my/our best to sanitise between deliveries. I wipe down my van when I arrive at the yard (after opening the windows fully), and personally I do not touch orders, returns being placed in a crate by the customer with the barcode upwards to be “zapped”.
From my experience, whenever I buy items, I wipe down with sanitising wipes, as I do with our handsets, and I have my own pen and clipboard. If ever I am stopped by the police and tested for alcohol, I would be over the limit by osmosis via my hands!
Talking to those working on the shop floor, they are increasingly saying how upset they get at the attitude of ignorant, disrespectful customers.
But the reaction on the doorstep 99 per cent of the time is fantastic – we are thanked for delivering, and for working extra days or days off, and many cannot wait to fist-punch the air, smile and tell you they have had their vaccine jab.
In summary when you go shopping – wear a mask.
Concerned supermarket worker,
via email