National Lottery funding supporting victims of domestic violence, and improving mental health.

The National Lottery Community Fund is today announcing £2.4 million of grants to over one hundred projects across Wales that are helping communities to tackle issues including domestic violence and isolation, which have risen as a result of the lockdown. In Wales, charities have reported an increase of calls reporting domestic abuse to help lines since March*. The National Lottery has today announced its support for six organisations working with families suffering from this issue with grants totalling £171,766.

John Rose, Director Wales for The National Lottery Community Fund said:

“Organisations offering support to those experiencing domestic violence have seen an increased demand for their services as a result of the Covid-19 lockdown. With the support of the National Lottery funding announced today we’re supporting them to meet these increasing levels of demand which are predicted to continue to rise*.

“Our grants are available thanks to National Lottery players who raise £30 million every week for good causes across the UK. We are continuing to receive a high number of requests for grants from across Wales, showing just how resilient our communities are and how important National Lottery funding is for groups during this difficult time.”

The six projects will be targeting people across Wales, they are:

Family Friends in Wrexham will use a £10,000 grant to provide online and telephone support for women who are or have been suffering from Domestic Abuse. Mary Roblin, Manager of Family Friends said:

“The funding is helping keep women safer in their home and providing them with strength to make decisions to improve their lives.”

Hafan Cymru were awarded £76,766 to provide support to children and young people in Haverfordwest and Swansea who are at an increased risk of both to becoming victims and witnessing domestic abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic. They will be providing a package of support remotely at first with face to face support in the longer term. This help will be delivered alongside Hafan Cymru's other housing related support projects.

Families Need Fathers Both Parents Matter Cymru, successfully bid for £9,700 to provide support and advice to male victims of domestic abuse across Wales but mainly in Swansea and Neath, during and after the COVID-19 lockdown.

Carmarthen Domestic Abuse Service are planning to use a COVID-19 grant top-up of £9,995 to buy a course to be delivered online to people in their own homes. This will not also be useful after the COVID-19 pandemic ends for victims living in isolated rural areas who find access to support services more difficult.

Domestic Abuse Safety Unit North Wales will use £10,000 to support the surge of high-risk victims of domestic abuse due to Covid-19 in four counties of North Wales by improving the security of where people live (aka target hardening) to allow people to stay in their own homes more safely and avoid homelessness.

Cyfannol Women's Aid Ltd has received £65,005 to respond to the current and potential demand from those being affected by domestic abuse, during and following the COVID-19 pandemic. The grant will provide additional capacity for them to support alongside Gwent Police while attending emergency call outs and for the crisis support workers to support referrals.

This month The National Lottery Fund announced £2,414,743 of grants for 113 projects in Wales, this total includes £171,766 of grants to six organisations targeting victims of domestic violence during lockdown, you can find the full list here in a word document.

END

**source - Welsh Government release