A safe, just and equal world for women

“The Spring budget has once again failed to prioritise tackling violence against women, despite the public’s demand for urgent action to ensure the safety of women and girls. There is a lot of talk about pensions and taxation, but little about providing life-saving support to women and girls.

“Domestic abuse in the UK is estimated to cost society £66 billion a year according to the government’s own evidence and affects 1.7 million women and girls each year. We need to see a firmer commitment, backed up by vital funding to ensure all women and girls can get the protection and help they need, when and where they need it.

“In the context of a cost-of-living crisis which disproportionately affects women and girls affected by domestic abuse, many are feeling that their only option is to remain in abusive situations. While we are pleased to see increased investment in childcare, it is not enough to support women and children affected by domestic abuse and the criminal justice system, whose income is already squeezed.

“This also comes as local authorities’ cuts lead to closures of services, leaving charities like Advance plugging the gap whilst simultaneously facing funding cuts ourselves. Our keyworkers are working harder than ever to respond to the epidemic of domestic abuse, exacerbated by falling trust and confidence in the system, all the while also facing the effects of the cost-of-living crisis themselves and being forced to leave the charity sector.

“We must see a firm commitment for a minimum investment in community-based support services for women and girls who have experienced domestic abuse to the tune of £220 million a year to ensure all survivors have access to specialist women’s services and women’s centres in the community.