Police Commissioner announces funding to tackle violence against women and girls

Police and Crime Commissioner for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Jason Ablewhite is today announcing confirmation of a successful partnership bid for funding to help prevent and address violence against women and girls (VAWG).

The county has secured £400,000, over three years, to support young people affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence.

The Commissioner’s office led a successful bid with Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council along with statutory and non-statutory partners for the government funding. It is being awarded through a £17 million Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) Service Transformation Fund, announced by the Ministry of Justice in July.

The money will fund therapeutic support for young people affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence either as a victim or witness. Support will also be available for young people acting in an abusive way towards either their siblings or partners.

The work will be primarily delivered by locally-based charities Embrace – Child Victims of Crime and Ormiston Families. Support will be provided by the county’s youth offending services and other voluntary sector partners as the work develops.

Police and Crime Commissioner, Jason Ablewhite said:

“I am extremely pleased that once again we have been able to bring in additional resources to support the most vulnerable residents of our county.

“Domestic abuse and sexual violence devastates the lives of victims, their friends and families. This work will support young people to address these ‘Adverse Childhood Experiences’ and reduce the impact of these experiences in their future lives. This in turn reduces the future potential cost on the public purse through drawing on statutory services.”