Redefining what good looks like
Impower’s annual top 10 list is a celebration of strong council performance, and as Jon Ainger explains, many local authorities have stepped up to the challenge.
Whitehall confirms plans to end ‘postcode lottery’ for abuse survivors
21/10/2019 The Government has confirmed plans for a new legal duty for local authorities to provide survivors of domestic abuse with safe accommodation. |
Fear of homelessness keeping women in ‘dangerous situations’, report finds
17/10/2019 Almost half of women fleeing secure tenancies said that fear of becoming homeless had been a barrier to leaving their abuser, a new study has revealed. |
First domestic abuse commissioner appointed
18/09/2019 Local government leaders have welcomed the appointment of the first commissioner responsible for tackling domestic abuse. |
Government to reintroduce Domestic Abuse Bill
13/09/2019 The prime minister has confirmed that his Government will reintroduce a Bill to help tackle the ‘horrific crime’ of domestic abuse. |
Domestic abuse survivors face homelessness, charity warns
12/09/2019 A charity has warned that women escaping domestic abuse face the risk of homelessness due to a lack of refuge bed spaces. |
Khan announces 200 new homes for rough sleepers and victims of domestic abuse
09/08/2019 Up to 200 new homes will be built in London to help former rough sleeps and victims of domestic abuse to leave hostels and refuges. |
London Assembly reminds PM of past promises
25/07/2019 The London Assembly has written to the new PM urging him to continue opposing Heathrow expansion and calling on him to support moves to tackle domestic abuse. |
Domestic abuse victims in rural areas ‘failed’ by system
17/07/2019 Victims of domestic abuse living in the countryside are ‘isolated, unsupported and unprotected’ a damning report has warned today. |
Council chiefs call for ‘adequate resources’ to tackle domestic abuse
16/07/2019 Local authority leaders have called for the ‘resources’ needed to fund early intervention services aimed at preventing domestic abuse. |
Domestic abuse victims more likely to develop a mental illness
07/06/2019 Women suffering domestic abuse are three times more likely than others to develop mental illness, according to a study. |
Nearly 2,000 abuse victims a year struggle to access ‘safe’ council housing
30/05/2019 Around 1,960 people fleeing domestic abuse each year are put at risk of homelessness because they are not eligible for ‘safe, secure housing’, study shows. |
Council refuses to accept ruling over treatment of homeless family
30/05/2019 Oadby and Wigston Borough Council has refused to accept an official ruling over its treatment of a homeless family facing domestic violence, according to LGO. |
Pledge to end 'postcode lottery' for domestic abuse victims
13/05/2019 Councils will be legally required to provide safe housing for survivors of domestic abuse under new measures announced today. |
Domestic abuse services ‘struggling’ due to budget cuts
01/04/2019 Nearly 60% of women accessing domestic abuse support services have children and one in 15 are pregnant, according to a new report. |
Deputy mayor suspended from Labour after abuse allegations
08/03/2019 The deputy lord mayor of Oxford City Council has been suspended from the local authority’s Labour Group due to an allegation of domestic abuse. |
Council offers extra paid leave to staff who suffer from domestic abuse
08/03/2019 Staff at an east London council who suffer from domestic abuse are to be given 10 days paid leave to tackle the problem. |
Austerity is gutting services ‘vital’ to women’s lives, report reveals
07/03/2019 Austerity has hit women the hardest with funding for women’s refuges, social care and youth and children’s services slashed, a new report has found. |
Former Spice Girl raises awareness of economic abuse
06/03/2019 Spice Girl Mel B has visited Downing Street as the Government prepares to recognise economic abuse in its definition of domestic abuse for the first time. |
Council offers additional leave to victims of abuse
14/02/2019 A Scottish Council is set to be the first in Europe to offer additional leave provision to employees who are victims of domestic abuse. |
Council chiefs call for more funding to tackle domestic abuse
22/01/2019 Local government leaders say they support Whitehall’s new measures aimed at tackling domestic abuse, but add that they must be fully funded. |
Supporting victims of domestic abuse
21/01/2019 More than a year after the Government promised a domestic abuse bill, Neil Merrick explores what councils are currently doing to help protect victims. |
Government failing to treat children as victims of domestic abuse, warns charity
11/01/2019 Nearly a quarter of a million children should be classed as victims of domestic abuse, the NSPCC has said today. |
Whitehall confirms £22m for domestic abuse survivors
12/11/2018 Over 60 projects are set to receive a multi-million pound injection of cash in order to help survivors of domestic abuse, the Government has confirmed. |
Universal Credit ‘retrograde’ step in tackling domestic abuse
22/10/2018 Single household payments under UC are a ‘retrograde’ step which makes it difficult for victims of domestic violence to escape their abuser, according to MPs. |
Universal Credit could increase risk of domestic violence, MPs warn
01/08/2018 Paying the Universal Credit benefit to a household rather than individuals could increase the risk of domestic violence, MPs have warned. |
Whitehall launches £8m domestic abuse fund
23/07/2018 Local authorities are now able to bid for money from an £8m fund in order to help children who have been affected by domestic abuse, the Government announced over the weekend. |
Two million children at ‘serious risk’, report reveals
04/07/2018 Over two million children are growing up in families where there are ‘serious risks’, a major new study has revealed. |
Whitehall announces £19m to support domestic abuse survivors
03/07/2018 The Government yesterday released almost £19m of funding to expand support for survivors of domestic abuse. |
Councils turning away abused women warns charity
27/06/2018 Councils are turning away survivors of domestic abuse and their children, forcing them to sleep rough, a report by Women’s Aid has claimed. |
Universal Credit could put domestic violence victims ‘at further risk’
19/06/2018 Reforms to the welfare system could increase women’s vulnerability to financial abuse, a new report has argued today. |
Councils chiefs take a stand against domestic violence ahead of World Cup
14/06/2018 Local government leaders have called on the footballing community to raise awareness of domestic abuse as studies reveal a correlation between England matches and violence against women. |
Housing experts pledge to tackle domestic abuse
30/05/2018 Housing experts have issued a 'pledge' they say will help tackle domestic abuse. |
MPs throw weight behind pledge to tackle domestic abuse
23/05/2018 More than 100 MPs and members of the House of Lords have pledged support for a campaign to end sexual violence and domestic abuse. |
Domestic abuse survivors ‘falling through the cracks’ charity warns
10/05/2018 Many survivors of domestic abuse are falling into a cycle of homelessness and abuse due to the complexity of the housing system, a charity has warned. |
A public health approach to tackling domestic abuse
26/04/2018 Early intervention is key to tackling domestic abuse, particularly involving children, and as Stuart Gallimore argues, the Government has to take a firmer lead from the front. |
MPs to investigate link between Universal Credit and abuse
18/04/2018 The Work and Pensions Committee today announced they will be holding a one-off evidence session on the relationship between Universal Credit and domestic abuse. |
Half of children referred to councils for ‘extra help’ have suffered abuse
19/02/2018 Council chiefs have called for more Government support for children’s services after it was revealed half of the children referred to local authorities for ‘extra help’ have suffered domestic abuse. |
Domestic abuse victims to be prioritised for social housing
30/10/2017 Local authorities should treat victims of domestic abuse living in safe accommodation as a priority for social housing, new guidance states. |
Funding for women’s refuges cut by 24% over last seven years
17/10/2017 Councils have cut the amount they spent on women’s refuges by nearly a quarter (24%) since 2010, an investigation has revealed. |
Directors call for more cash to tackle domestic abuse
19/09/2017 Councils need more sustainable funding to invest in the prevention of the domestic abuse of children, say directors of children’s services. |
New plans will make it easier for domestic abuse victims to vote
04/09/2017 The Government has confirmed it will implement plans to make it easier for domestic abuse survivors to register to vote anonymously. |
Council fined after delays left woman fleeing domestic violence in B&B
31/08/2017 A council has agreed to pay £3,000 after delays left a woman fleeing domestic violence in ‘unsuitable’ bed and breakfast accommodation for nearly two years. |
More funding announced to help children affected by domestic abuse
08/08/2017 The Scottish Government has announced an additional £200,000 funding to help support children affected by domestic abuse. |
Preventing homelessness of vulnerable is 'achievable goal' say MPs
18/07/2017 Preventing homelessness for care leavers, victims of domestic abuse and people leaving prison is 'achievable' within the next Parliament, a new report has argued. |
Domestic abuse victims could be allowed to vote anonymously under new proposals
03/03/2017 Survivors of domestic abuse will find it easier to register to vote anonymously under new government proposals. |
Services for domestic abuse victims gets £20m funding boost
17/02/2017 Projects across the country are to receive a share of £20m to support victims of domestic abuse, creating more than 2,200 new bed spaces in refuges. |
Late intervention costing councils £6.4bn a year finds research
17/11/2016 It costs local councils £6.4bn a year to deal with damaging social problems affecting children and their families, new research has revealed. |
£20m fund to tackle domestic abuse announced
04/11/2016 Local authorities are now able to bid for a share of a £20m fund dedicated to tackling domestic abuse, the communities secretary says. |
May pledges to exempt refuges from benefit cap
08/09/2016 The prime minister has signalled her intention to exempt refuges from the housing benefit cap in a move welcomed by charities. |
Housing benefit cap could force two-thirds of women's refuges to close
05/09/2016 More than two-thirds of domestic abuse refuges could be forced to close unless they are exempt from the housing benefit cap, new research has warned today |
Inspections launched into councils’ approach to domestic abuse
10/08/2016 New inspections will investigate how well local partners, including councils, work together to protect children living with domestic abuse. |
This issue of Local Government News explores how councils can tackle modern slavery and trafficking in their supply chains, finds out more about Cambridge's first cohousing scheme and the launch of a new project to build a shared service pattern library for local government.
This issue also contains a special focus on children's services and how councils are protecting children following local safeguarding children boards being abolished.
