Enfield among councils securing £600k for local charities, including Muslim Women’s Aid
Councils in London have secured more £600,000 in government funding to help support vulnerable women, particularly Muslim women, in north London.
Enfield Council is the biggest beneficiary, with the borough successfully bidding for £241,500 Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) for Enfield Muslim Women’s Aid refuge and to extend outreach services for Muslim women across Enfield, Barnet and Haringey.
This will include refuge spaces for women and children and specialist resettlement work alongside advice, advocacy, language support and counselling, the council said.
The borough also partnered Haringey, Islington and Camden in a separate application for £398,000 of funds to support each of the boroughs to work with women experiencing multiple and severe disadvantage.
Enfield Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Safety & Public Health, Cllr Krystle Fonyonga, said: “Enfield Council has played a key role in helping these groups which work with our most disadvantaged women to give them vital support, advice and assistance when it is really needed.”
Many organisations exist across London that give advice, advocacy and support to vulnerable women in North London.
Some can refer women onto safe refuge accommodation, longer term advocacy for the criminal justice system, or specialist children’s services.
Advice is also available from such charities on matters such as safety, housing, the police and courts, benefits, health and immigration issues.
According to another charity, Solace Women’s Aid, domestic violence is when a partner or a family member is abusing someone emotionally, physically, sexually or financially. It can be one single incident or repeated abuse but usually it is a pattern of behaviour.
“If you feel intimidated by or frightened of your partner to the point where you feel that you have to change your behaviour you may be experiencing domestic violence,” the charity says.
