Grass roots organisations who work with people from ethnically diverse backgrounds will have access to a new fund to ensure more domestic abuse victims access life-changing support.
The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) has joined forces with voluntary development agency Catalyst Stockton to enhance support for domestic abuse victims from ethnically diverse backgrounds.
Police and Crime Commissioner Steve Turner has allocated £30,000 for the fund, with groups and organisations able to bid for up to £5,000 each.
The aim of the fund is to raise awareness of existing domestic abuse agencies within ethnically diverse communities. In addition, the fund aims to help victims facing cultural barriers to access services.
The fund has been developed after a thorough consultation with organisations that work with diverse groups.
This research revealed that many people from these communities were not currently accessing support for domestic abuse. If they were, they wanted to access support through existing domestic abuse services.
Listening to victims
PCC Steve Turner said: “When we’re designing services and projects, it’s really important we listen to the needs of all victims, especially those from diverse backgrounds with specific cultural or religious needs.
“They may face additional barriers to understanding domestic abuse or how to access support – whether through a language barrier, a lack of family support or less knowledge about what constitutes domestic abuse in the UK.
“We want to empower the organisations who work with ethnically diverse people every day to be that vital link between their networks and the brilliant domestic abuse services we already have in Cleveland.”
Deadline
An awareness event to assist potential applicants will be held at 10:00 on Wednesday 16 March at River Tees Water Sports Centre.
Applications will open the same day, with two closing dates:
Monday 28March 2022: for groups who can deliver their service from Monday 4 April.
Friday 6 May 2022: for groups who can deliver their service from Monday 16 May.
More information about the fund and the criteria for applications can be found at: