Domestic violence in Sefton ‘the highest for many years’ as charity increases staff to cope

The numbers of people in Sefton being murdered or committing suicide due to domestic abuse is at “the highest number for many years”. 

Local charity Sefton Women’s And Children’s Aid (SWACA) shared its concerns over the rising numbers of cases at all levels in a plea for further funding from Sefton Council. 

The organisation added that “Merseyside has had one of the highest rates of domestic homicides over the COVID-19 pandemic”. 

The organisation has grown staffing numbers to help more people, but the rising numbers of cases, added to rising energy costs, has led to pressures on funding. 

A Sefton Women’s And Children’s Aid spokesperson said in a report to Sefton Council: “I am sitting on multiple Domestic Homicide Reviews, including both murders and suicides relating to experiences of domestic abuse, and we do not want any more deaths in Sefton. It has been the highest number for many years.” 

The charity is now seeking £25,000 from the local authority’s Community Transition Fund so it can replace 21 windows and two doors at its ‘draughty’ offices on Knowsley Road in Bootle. 

They added: “SWACA have invested additional funds secured over the last couple of years into front line capacity, because of the significant, and rising need and risk, around domestic abuse, in Sefton, mirrored across Merseyside. 

“That has been to the detriment of other areas of the charity including investing in our building because we wanted to meet rising domestic abuse need, which carries very high risk, one of the very highest risk areas that any VCF Sector organisation in Sefton addresses, and Merseyside has had one of the highest rates of domestic homicides over the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“In addition, SWACA has faced increased costs due to rises in energy / insurance costs and other prices, and we have had to raise our salaries over the last couple of months because recruitment is so difficult and therefore retention is ever more important, and our staff are struggling with the cost of living crisis. 

“This all has to be funded, so the reality is that the Board and I are trying to sustain a bigger staffing team, and higher operational costs, during a difficult economic climate, with pressure on our own resources during 2022 increasing. 

“The Board and I have to be very careful about investing in the building, despite the need for this with an ageing building, with our own resources at present, hence this funding request, as that could come at the expense of staff at a time we can ill afford to reduce our capacity. 

“I am sitting on multiple Domestic Homicide Reviews, including both murders and suicides relating to experiences of domestic abuse, and we do not want any more deaths in Sefton. It has been the highest number for many years. 

“SWACA plays a crucial role in addressing this as the largest provider of specialist domestic abuse support services, and in preventing this happening, and that is just the extreme end of domestic abuse. 

“We also have all the trauma caused by less extreme, but nonetheless dangerous, domestic abuse. 

“I am already very concerned about how I am going to sustain a bigger staffing capacity, and avoid risk of redundancies, with the constant uncertainty around funding VCF Sector organisations continually face, and I remain very concerned with the seemingly continual rise in demand for SWACA’s services, for women, men (as we now also provide a male victims service), and children / young people affected by domestic abuse.” 

• For more details about the services provided by Sefton Women’s And Children’s Aid please visit: swaca.com

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