Domestic abuse service to continue - council

A service which provides support to victims of domestic abuse will continue for a further four years after councillors agreed to fund its continuation.

Rotherham's Domestic Abuse Refuge Service, currently run by charity Hopian (formerly Rotherham Rise), provides temporary accommodation to victims and their families and supports them to live independently.

On Monday, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council agreed to recommission the service when the current contract ends in September.

Ian Spicer, strategic director of adult care, housing and public health, told the meeting the refuge formed an important part of the local authority's domestic abuse support offering.

"There are direct services that support people through counselling and one-to-one support but the refuge there is the foundation stone, if you like, that provides that security for people whether it's in a single, organised building or separate temporary accommodation places," he said.

"It's a range of services and not just a single refuge to meets different needs."

The current contract consists of 18 units of supported, safe accommodation in Rotherham, including a refuge for women and children.

The council said recommissioning the service for four years, with the option to extend for a further two years, would ensure continuous service provision and stability for service users.

The council plans to offer the current purpose-built refuge accommodation as an option to be used again.

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