VE Day: Council duties under the Armed Forces Covenant
As we mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, Geoff Wild, Legal & Governance Consultant, looks at the duties of councils under the Armed Forces Covenant.
Council told to apologise to homeless abuse survivor
15/05/2025 The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has asked Halton Borough Council to apologise and pay monthly reparations to a homeless domestic abuse survivor they failed to help. |
Council apologises to domestic abuse victim
08/05/2025 North Kesteven District Council has issued an apology after failing to promptly install vital security measures in the home of a domestic abuse victim. |
Council refuses to pay remedy to domestic abuse victim
13/11/2024 Leicester City Council has refused part of the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman’s recommendation to pay a homeless domestic abuse victim following a complaint. |
Mother fleeing abuse forced to live in mixed-sex B&B
10/10/2024 A mother fleeing abuse was forced to live in accommodation so unsuitable her disabled child would soil themselves rather than use the shared bathroom. |
Councils granted new powers to tackle domestic abuse
20/09/2024 Local authorities are to be granted more powers to prevent domestic abusers from making contact with their victims, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announces. |
Woman denied help after council fails to recognise domestic abuse
05/09/2024 Ealing Council denied a pregnant woman housing support because it used an outdated definition of domestic abuse, an ombudsman has found. |
Council leader steps down amid abuse allegations
19/04/2024 The leader of West Northamptonshire Council, Cllr Jonathan Nunn, has stood down amid allegations of abuse. |
Seven areas selected for £45m child protection trial
11/04/2024 Seven more areas in England have been selected to trial the Families First for Children (FFC) scheme, a £45m child protection programme. |
Domestic abuse services ‘at risk of disappearing’
26/02/2024 Urgent action is needed to protect domestic abuse services as the local authority finance crisis ‘spirals out of control’, the domestic abuse commissioner has warned. |
Khan pledges £15m for domestic abuse services
14/02/2024 Projects that support survivors of domestic abuse in the capital will receive an extra £15m, the major of London has announced. |
Abuse main driver of children’s social care demand
17/01/2024 Domestic abuse and violence is the most prevalent category of demand for children’s social care services, a groundbreaking new study has revealed. |
Domestic abuse victims at risk over data breaches
28/09/2023 The information commissioner has issued a warning after having to reprimand several organisations for data breaches affecting domestic abuse victims. |
London boroughs form partnership to tackle domestic abuse
11/09/2023 Seven boroughs in south London have launched a two-year programme which aims to tackle domestic abuse. |
Councils chosen for family-focussed social care trials
27/07/2023 The Government has announced the councils that will test two new children’s social care programmes, which aim to support families through early help. |
Thanet Council dismantles Banksy’s ‘Valentine’s Day’ mural
15/02/2023 An artwork by Banksy in Margate has been dismantled by the local council just hours after the artist claimed it as his. |
Councils to receive over £250m to support domestic abuse survivors
12/12/2022 Councils are set to receive £257m to provide support for victims of domestic abuse and their children who are staying in safe accommodation. |
Children from violent homes to receive mental health support
05/12/2022 Children who have been affected by abuse are set to get automatic access to mental health services regardless of whether they were present during violence. |
Domestic abuse survivors face ‘postcode lottery’
29/11/2022 Survivors of domestic abuse face a ‘postcode lottery’ when it comes to accessing support services across England and Wales, a new study has revealed. |
Cost of living crisis to lead to ‘catastrophic’ winter
07/09/2022 The cost of living crisis will have a ‘catastrophic’ impact with an increase in the number of children entering care and a rise in domestic violence. |
Khan calls for ‘joined-up approach’ to tackle child-to-parent abuse
13/04/2022 Mayor of London Sadiq Khan today called for a ‘joined-up approach’ to tackle domestic abuse carried out by children against their parents. |
Family Courts pioneering approach to support domestic abuse victims
06/04/2022 Filomena Sterkaj outlines how a new pilot aims to better support victims of domestic abuse. |
Council chiefs welcome £7.5m domestic abuse funding
31/03/2022 Local authority leaders have welcomed the extra funding and the prioritisation of prevention in the Government’s new plan to tackle domestic abuse. |
New pilot to better support victims in family court
08/03/2022 A new pilot to improve the way local authorities and courts share information to better support victims of domestic abuse has been launched. |
Councils to receive £125m to support domestic abuse survivors
15/02/2022 The Government has announced a multi-million-pound funding package to help survivors of domestic abuse find a safe environment to rebuild their lives. |
Call to end 'patchy' support for children affected by domestic abuse
01/02/2022 Police in England and Wales made almost a quarter of a million referrals to social services for domestic abuse in 2020/21, a charity has uncovered. |
Abuse victims given more time to report incidents
05/01/2022 Victims of domestic abuse will be allowed more time to report incidents of common assault or battery against them, the Government today announced. |
Domestic abuse crimes rose by 6% in past year
25/11/2021 The number of domestic abuse crimes recorded by the police in England and Wales in the year ending March 2021 increased by 6% on the previous year, new figures have shown. |
Peers reveal COVID's impact on children's mental health
05/11/2021 The mental health issues of vulnerable children already receiving support have become more severe due to the pandemic, councils have warned in a new survey. |
Guidance sets out new duties for councils to support domestic abuse victims
01/10/2021 Councils have been warned not to house victims of domestic abuse in B&Bs or mixed homeless hostels in new guidance published by the Government. |
£10m for family support programmes to prevent violence
27/09/2021 Local authorities have been urged to apply for a £10m fund to find out how family support can help prevent violence. |
Calls for more funding as child abuse increases
20/08/2021 Incidents involving death or serious harm to a child have risen in the past year, leading to calls for further funding. |
Strategy to stop violence against women ‘missed opportunity’, charity says
09/08/2021 Government’s strategy for tacking violence against women and girls (VAWG) is ‘missed opportunity, charity supporting victims of domestic violence argues. |
New safe housing pilot for vulnerable rough sleepers
27/07/2021 Vulnerable rough sleepers will be given access to safe housing under a new pilot in 12 areas in England. |
15 local areas to deliver Changing Futures programme
19/07/2021 The most vulnerable people across England will receive co-ordinated support to help rebuild their lives, the Government has announced. |
Supporting young victims of domestic abuse
10/06/2021 Steph Waddell says it’s time for a serious long-term commitment from government to improve understanding of what works in supporting children affected by domestic abuse. |
Domestic Abuse Bill signed into law
30/04/2021 Councils will now have a legal duty to provide more support to victims of domestic abuse after the the Domestic Abuse Bill received Royal Assent. |
Domestic abuse victims facing 'unfair lottery' of support
06/04/2021 Victims of domestic abuse are not getting the help they need due to 'significant' gaps in support, new research has warned. |
Changing Futures programme extended for three years
19/03/2021 A programme to help people facing multiple issues has been extended with an extra £18m new investment. |
A changing role for councils in tackling domestic abuse
01/03/2021 Harriet Donovan argues that councils will play a key role in supporting victims of abuse if the Domestic Abuse Bill passes. |
Charity warns funding for refuges ‘inadequate’
17/02/2021 A charity focusing on supporting women and children who have survived domestic abuse has warned that existing funding arrangements for refuge services are ‘inadequate’. |
Councils allocated £125m domestic abuse funding
12/02/2021 Councils have been allocated their share of £125m to fund the new duty to support domestic violence victims. |
New £40m fund launched to support victims of abuse
01/02/2021 The Government has launched a £40m fund to help victims of rape and domestic abuse during the pandemic. |
Councils warned not to adopt allocations criteria that disadvantage domestic abuse victims
14/01/2021 The ombudsman has reminded councils to consider the exceptional circumstances of people fleeing domestic abuse when assessing their housing needs. |
Councils warn about 'significant' overspends on children’s services
24/11/2020 The number of vulnerable young people referred to councils’ children’s services increased by 15% in the first three months after the first lockdown, figures have shown. |
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Social services directors report unprecedented demand for help
23/11/2020 Directors of adult social services have reported a sharp rise in demand in the wake of the pandemic, according to a new survey. |
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Funding boost to support rape and domestic abuse victims
18/11/2020 Nearly £11m in new funding to support domestic abuse and rape victims this winter has been announced. |
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Report calls for extra investment in women's centres
20/10/2020 The Government has been urged to invest more funding in women's centres to help reduce the number of women in prison, in a new report published today. |
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Councils receive extra funding to prepare for new domestic abuse duty
06/10/2020 Councils have been awarded an extra £6m to help prepare for the introduction of the Domestic Abuse Bill next April. |
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Charity calls for end of domestic abuse data 'scandal'
01/10/2020 The Government has been urged to end the ‘scandal’ of only collecting domestic abuse data for people up to the age of 74. |
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Councils back evictions ban in face of landlord criticism
15/06/2020 Councils have insisted police powers can still be used to evict perpetrators of domestic violence amid the evictions ban. |
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Charity reports huge increase in women seeking domestic abuse help
28/05/2020 The number of women seeking help for domestic abuse has 'spiked significantly' since lockdown began, a charity has warned. |
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Ensuring continuity of care in a time of crisis
22/05/2020 Julie Tyas discusses how tech is becoming the eyes and ears of social workers during the pandemic. |
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Jenrick unveils £76m funding for ‘most vulnerable’
04/05/2020 The communities secretary has announced £76m funding to support the ‘most vulnerable’ in society during the pandemic. |
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Multi-million pound funding to support children affected by domestic abuse
29/04/2020 Specialist services that support children affected by domestic abuse will receive £3.1m in extra funding. |
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Social landlords asked to only allow essential home moves
28/04/2020 Social housing landlords have been asked to pause any non-urgent house moves to help limit the spread of coronavirus. |
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MPs call for urgent action to deal with rise in domestic abuse
27/04/2020 The Government has been urged to take urgent action to prevent and address the rise in domestic abuse during the Covid-19 pandemic. |
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Social landlords issued with new domestic abuse guidance
16/04/2020 New guidance to help social landlords protect tenants from domestic violence during the coronavirus pandemic has been published. |
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Domestic abuse puts children at more risk of exploitation, review warns
01/04/2020 There is an overlap between children’s experience of domestic abuse and their offending behaviour, a review has concluded today. |
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Council chiefs call for funding for domestic abuse services
03/03/2020 Local authority leaders have welcomed the re-introduction of a Bill aimed at protecting victims of domestic abuse, but called on the Government to fund services designed to prevent violence in the home. |
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Funding boost to end ‘postcode lottery’ of domestic abuse support
17/02/2020 Councils across England will share £16.6m funding to help provide services and support to survivors of domestic abuse. |
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Charity warns funding crisis ‘biggest issue’ facing domestic abuse sector
28/01/2020 Nearly two thirds of refuge referrals were declined last year, a charity for survivors of domestic abuse has discovered. |
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Nearly 700 children a day at risk of domestic violence
21/11/2019 Many children facing domestic abuse are failing to get the support they need because of a 'postcode lottery, a new report has warned today. |
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Victims of domestic abuse let down by 'fragmented' system
21/11/2019 Victims and survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence are being let down by 'inconsistent, complex and short term' services in Wales, according to a new report. |
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‘Horrifying’ lack of support for vulnerable men
18/11/2019 Only three councils are providing accommodation for male victims of domestic violence, a new investigation has revealed. |
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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. |
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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. |
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First domestic abuse commissioner appointed
18/09/2019 Local government leaders have welcomed the appointment of the first commissioner responsible for tackling domestic abuse. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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Housing experts pledge to tackle domestic abuse
30/05/2018 Housing experts have issued a 'pledge' they say will help tackle domestic abuse. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
