Domestic Abuse Services

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Finance and Local Government – in the Senedd at 2:14 pm on 15 December 2021.

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Photo of John Griffiths John Griffiths Labour 2:14, 15 December 2021

Minister, in Newport, and indeed also Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent and Monmouthshire, Barnardo's Cymru run an Opening Closed Doors service, which is a service for the whole family when domestic abuse is occurring and a family are suffering as a result. Indeed, since March 2019, over 450 families have benefited from this service. It provides tailored support to adult and child survivors of domestic abuse, as well as services to perpetrators. General research shows that more than one in 10 children under the age of 11 experience domestic abuse. The pandemic, with associated lockdowns, has worsened these problems, and as a result, there is increased and ongoing demand. An independent evaluation of this Barnardo's service, Minister, has been very positive and shows the value of the work, but Home Office funding, which enables this project, currently runs out in March of next year and the future beyond that is uncertain. Minister, along with other MSs for the area benefiting from this service, I have written to you and included the evaluation and an explanation of the work that's involved with this service, and I wonder if you would carefully consider necessary financial support to ensure that this important and worthwhile work continues beyond March of next year.