Place-based support now available for local survivors of domestic abuse

Three local charities have been awarded a share of £300k over two years, via a community grant round, to expand the offer of face-to-face group work for up to 800 survivors of domestic abuse across all six districts.  

This joint Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and Cambridgeshire County Council work builds on the existing model of support and for the first time enables survivors to access help across the county including, Huntingdonshire, Fenland, Cambridge, Peterborough as well as South and East Cambridgeshire.  

In Peterborough and Fenland the well-established charity Peterborough Women’s Aid will be delivering support while The Angels Foundation is taking on Huntingdonshire and East Cambridgeshire. The Meadows Children and Family Wing will continue their work in Cambridge and offer face to face work in South Cambridgeshire.  

The funding will enable the delivery of both structured group work, delivering for example the Domestic Violence Freedom Programme, and unstructured group sessions with the charities also offering wellbeing walks and additionally in Peterborough and Fenland, monthly drop-in groups for male victims.   

A small grant has also been awarded to The Edge Cafe in Cambridge to pilot group work in this community.   

Police and Crime Commissioner Darryl Preston said he was keen to increase the availability of face-to-face support outside of the county’s two largest cities. “One of the benefits of local commissioning is being able to respond to the needs of all victims. It is important to remove geographical barriers wherever possible and enable victims and survivors the speak to specialist support staff in real life. There is always a place for digital and telephone-based support, but this helps people make connections with others and create peer-support networks at the same time.”  

Cllr Alison Whelan, chair of the Communities, Social Mobility and Inclusion Committee at Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “I’m delighted that by working together locally we are increasing access to specialist domestic abuse group work in our county, with support now available in every district across Cambridgeshire. 

“This important resource adds to the existing support available to victims of domestic abuse through the council’s commissioned Domestic Abuse Outreach Service and in-house Independent Domestic Violence Adviser Service.” 

Mandy Geraghty, CEO of Peterborough Women’s Aid said: “This funding will enable us to run specialist group programmes for survivors of domestic abuse, providing safe, supportive spaces where individuals can share experiences, rebuild confidence, and begin their journey towards recovery. 

“The expansion into Fenland marks an important step in ensuring that more survivors across the wider region have access to vital support services. By extending our reach, we can ensure those experiencing domestic abuse are not isolated and can access the help they need closer to where they live.” 

Caroline Deeprose, Founder and CEO of The Angels Foundation UK added: “We are proud to be delivering specialist domestic abuse recovery workshops across Huntingdonshire and East Cambridgeshire, providing safe, supportive spaces for women who are ready to rebuild their confidence, identity and sense of self after abuse.  

“We are particularly pleased to be expanding into East Cambridgeshire, where there is a clear need for accessible, community-based recovery support, and we look forward to working with local partners to ensure survivors can access the help they need.” 

Michele Wright, Project Manager/Course Facilitator at the Meadows Children & Family Wing added:  “We are delighted to have received funding to provide specialist, place-based group support for survivors closer to where they live across Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire. 

“This will enable us to provide safe, supportive spaces where survivors can connect with others, access specialist help, rebuild confidence and resilience, as part of their recovery journey.” 

For more information about where to access support locally visit: www.cambsdasv.org.uk.