News

Huge Cuts to Refuge Funding Threaten Survival of National Network

At the NEEVAWG network meeting on 21st April, Claire Philipson (CEO of Wearside Women in Need) gave a presentation on the potential catastrophic impact of the Governments proposal to cap the amount of housing benefit for supported accommodation - including refuge. The cap, which is due to be applied from April 2018, could cut revenue from housing benefit by up to 80% and will almost certainly result in the wholesale closure of refuges across England and Wales.

Taking Forward Women Centred Solutions - A new guide

Women Centred Working initiative has published a new guide to help councils and their partners explore potential benefits that doing things in a ‘women centred’ way can bring to local services and communities.

Taking Forward Women Centred Solutions demonstrates how gendered approaches can help unlock solutions to complex problems and deliver multiple outcomes for vulnerable women and their families – whilst making better use of public resources.

Government Inquiry into Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence in Schools

The Women and Equalities Committee has launched an inquiry into this issue. Data published in September 2015 showed that 5,500 sexual offences were recorded in UK schools over a three year period, including 600 rapes.

Campaign on Stalking

At the start of National Stalking Awareness Week, the Women’s Equality party (WE) and Paladin launched their campaign for tougher measures and better awareness of the crime of stalking, calling for immediate action to bring the law on stalking into full effect and reduce the risk to women.

New Interim Regulations for Family Law Legal Aid

In response to the judgment in a recent judicial review brought by Rights of Women (RoW), the Ministry of Justice has committed to undertaking a review of the regulations for family law legal aid and the impact of the domestic violence evidence. RoW are working closely with the Ministry of Justice to inform this review. In the meantime the Government has introduced interim regulations to deal with the two areas of concern highlighted by Lord Justice Longmore in his judgment of 18 February.

All Party Parliamentary Group on Domestic Violence publishes report on Child Contact and the Family Courts

In April 2016, the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Domestic Violence launched its report highlighting the urgent need for an end to cross-examination of survivors of domestic abuse by their abuser in the family court.

Police and Crime Commissioner Election Briefing Papers 2016

NEEVAWG has produced three short briefing papers looking at the pledges and activities of the North East Police and Crime Commissioners, in advance of the elections on 5th May 2016. The papers include comments from a survey of North East Women's Network members. We have produced papers for the following areas:

Police and Crime Commissioner's Community Funds

The three Police and Crime Commissioner's (PCCs) in the North East all have community grants available to the voluntary and community sector working to meet the objectives within their Police and Crime Plans.

Why is domestic violence not taken seriously in court?

Journalist Louise Tickle asks Why is domestic violence not taken seriously in court? drawing on evidence from a forthcoming BBC 1 programme Behind Closed Doors (to be aired on 14th March, at 9pm) which examines how domestic abuse is investigated and dealt with in court. With input from Vera Baird amongst others, you can read the article here.

Government launches new strategy

To mark International Women's Day the Government has launched its End Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy 2016-2020. Highlights include a commitment to spend £80 million of central government funding (some details on page 31) and retain the Rape Support Fund.

North East Women's Network