Women’s Aid is delighted to be working with the Home Office, member services and sector peers to help distribute an additional £2 million in funding to provide one-off payments to survivors of domestic abuse to help them flee, and stay fled, from abusers.  

From 31st January 2024, survivors of domestic abuse who do not have the financial means to leave their abusers will be able to apply for a one-off payment of up to £500 via one of over 470 support services, for essential items such as groceries, nappies or support with new accommodation to help them and their children flee to safety.     

For the first time, survivors can also apply for a further one-off payment of up to £2,500 to help secure a sustainable independent future, such as putting down a deposit for rental accommodation. This could play an important role in preventing homelessness and alleviate some of the financial pressures faced by survivors, providing stability and independence. 

The fund will be delivered via referrals from a network of local frontline services in England and Wales including organisations, helplines and caseworkers who have a specialist understanding of domestic abuse.     

The fund, which will initially last until March 2025, builds on a successful pilot from May 2023, delivered by Women’s Aid and the Home Office, which helped over 600 women find safety. The evaluation of this funding found that 83.4% of those applying said that the payments were used to help flee an abuser. With most survivors fleeing with little or no belongings, 77.6% said the money helped them to purchase essential goods such as fresh food for their children. Mental health and peace of mind was also improved, with the payments enabling them to purchase security measures such as CCTV and doorbell cameras.