To think this has to be one of the most effects of the cuts

[Memoo]

Refuge are in serious danger of closing because of funding cuts. Women are already being turned away and they could completely close their doors by the summer if they can't raise funds.

What the hell is going on when our government turns its back on abused women and children?

Their CEO is quoted in the guardian as saying this is the most worried she has been in 30 years!

Most Cruel

YANBU. That's bloody awful.

I remember the thread last year where the woman had fled and was sat in her car cos there was nowhere to go..refuge couldn't take her

So it's happening already

That's awful Boston.

I can't believe how few people have responded to this thread.

this is infuriating. is there anything we can do? who can we write to/email/call/whatever? these are some of the most vulnerable people in society. it is not civilised that abused women and children are being left to fend for themselves or worse still stay with abusers.

there must be something the govt can do. there is money that could stop this happening. my own local council was forced to admit they had £5000 more than they admitted to having after alot of work by one lone voice councillor proving it existed. there is money. thsi doesn't need to happen.

No idea they'd done this, bloody awful :(

link

It must be fucking wierd to have no moral compass or conscience.

Thanks for adding the link. I couldn't as on my phone.

Refuge are asking that people consider helping with fund raising.

Hopefully somebody a but more knowledgable than me will be along soon with some idea who we need to contact, petition etc. I'd happily chain myself to the fence at number 10 if it means stopping Refuge from closing.

Well how many members of government are in the pockets of abused women?

How many abused and fleeing women are influential and of political benefit to the government?

None?

I think that might explain a lot.

It's an absolute disgrace.

Bump

agree folkgirl.

bumping

There's nothing to stop any of us setting up a regular direct debit to Refuge if we feel strongly that their work should carry on. Just because public funds are a bit short, it doesn't mean the work has to stop. The worried CEO should be out there raising funds, knocking on doors and tweaking a few consciences. Does Mumsnet, for example, donate from the advertising revenues on the site? Start the ball rolling.

Donate here

thanks cogito.

i think the CEO is probably doing all she can. raising awareness in the newspapers could prove just as fruitful as knocking in doors and i imagine she and her team (i'm assuming she has others that work with her) are doing alot of behind the scenes emailing and letter writing to whoever they think may help.

Knocking on doors was a figure of speech. :) There are plenty of wealthy women out there & lots of big companies anxious to sell goods to women. Think the PR benefits of supporting Refuge should have them reaching for their cheque-books. So not all doom and gloom...

ah right sorry, got a fuggy head on today. yes i agree with you on that.

There are cuts across all services which help with the effect of DV,both statutory and charity providers.

Most of the cuts are being kept quite, the direct work groups, often written into Child In Need plans have been or are being stopped, because the workers are not available to run them anymore.

Perpetrator and victim work/support groups are also not as available, if at all, as they were.

I think that everyone should be lobbying their local tory MP, these cuts donot make sense because the effect of not having these services will cost more in the long run.

Under the law, we are all (professionals) wondering exactly how the government is going to get away with this,unless all of a suden the children's groups have suddenly been discovered to be ineffective .

I am so depressed by what is happening. Just bumping.

Thanks for flagging this - have just set up a DD for them, and will contact my (Tory) MP.

And bumping.

Join your anti-cuts group
coalitionofresistance
anticutsprotests

I totally agree.

Apuski do you mind me asking how you set up your DD -can you do it via the website? I

"There's nothing to stop any of us setting up a regular direct debit to Refuge if we feel strongly that their work should carry on"

While i some what support this view point, there are lots of charities to give to, to many that need support, to equal out the effect of the cuts.

I have raised my donation to a charity that not only does good work, but who has been instramental in stopping alot of the disability cuts, so has a wider impact.

We now need everyone to become politically active, even if this is only emailing your MP.

Apparently, 230 women PER DAY are turned away now.
Where was this in their election manifesto?

I kind of work in this area and it seems that LA are moving towards 'community based models' which really equates to women having to stay put and shut up. Even in the sector we are fighting to keep less refuge spaces open - in the county I work in its simply too late to argue to keep what we currently have. It's very depressing once we think about it but at the moment we are too busy trying to save what we can.

Can I suggest though if you want your £ to help a refuge stay open give your money to your nearest local refuge. They are struggling and don't have the voice of a national organisation.