Safety Partnership Urge Continued VAWG Funding

Cllr Tom Nundy, Chair of the Swale Community Safety Partnership, is calling on the Government to continue their funding to tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG).

In the last five years there has been a 37% increase in violence against women and girls, with 1 in 5 crimes (20%) in Kent and Medway being domestic abuse related in 2022/23.

Despite this Swale Borough Council are anticipating a loss of funding of at least £250,000 from April 2025 for local services tackling VAWG, due to a variety of funding streams ending such as Safer Streets and other specialist funds paid to the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner. 

Cllr Nundy has written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rt Hon Rachel Reeves MP, and local MPs Kevin McKenna (LAB) and Helen Whately (CON), asking them to work with the council to continue tackling violence against women and girls.

Cllr Tom Nundy, chair of the Swale Community Safety Partnership and SBC’s White Ribbon ambassador, told SFM News:  “Local domestic abuse services are supporting more and more people each year, but the funding to do this remains precarious at best. We are disappointed that the Government’s Autumn Budget didn’t address the urgent need for funding to tackle VAWG, despite domestic abuse being experienced by a large proportion of women. We are calling on our local MPs to bring this important issue to the attention of the Government. We need their support and an urgent review of funding available to tackle VAWG issues or services will close, expertise will be lost, and many victims will have to wait longer for help.”