Efforts to tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG) are being undermined by fragmented and short-term funding, according to a report from the Commons’ Home Affairs Committee.
Current approaches lack coordination and essential services are overstretched, with funding mechanisms often reactive rather than preventative, undermining the Government’s ambition to reduce VAWG by 50 per cent. The report calls for a more strategic, joined-up approach to funding, with sustainable resourcing for local services and improved accountability across agencies.
Cllr Heather Kidd MBE, Chair of the LGA’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board, said: “Councils are deeply committed to tackling violence against women and girls, domestic abuse and sexual violence. However, the sad truth is that financial pressures have impacted councils’ ability to provide VAWG services, which are underfunded and financially unsustainable.
“It was disappointing to not receive clarity in the recent Spending Review, when tackling VAWG is a key government priority.
“Local government needs a long-term and stable financial approach, alongside improved coordination and greater local flexibility around commissioning, to be able to reverse this.”