Leicestershire charity, Living Without Abuse, which provides support to victims of domestic abuse, has received a £14,840 grant from Severn Trent’s Community Fund. 

Based in Loughborough, the charity provides support to anyone experiencing or fearing violence or abuse from a partner, ex-partner or family member. The charity raises awareness of domestic abuse and sexual violence, working towards its prevention and eradication. 

Among its services, LWA offers support for children and family services, sexual violence support, and volunteering, training and education opportunities and supported 3,160 adults and 5,730 children who had experienced abuse in 2020/21.

The grant will go towards the provision of staff rooms at both its Loughborough and Leicester offices and refurbishment of existing counselling spaces, to create a more welcoming and relaxing environment for people using LWA’s services. 

Debbie Hughes, CEO at LWA, said: “We have been providing support for people who have suffered from domestic abuse since 1977, initially by providing refuge services for women but over the last ten years we have added new services and opened these up to support male victims.

“We have 70 paid staff and 30 volunteers who deal with really traumatic situations on a day-to-day basis, and it's important that we protect our teams from vicarious trauma and give them a calm, relaxing space away from their desks where they can unwind and take a moment for themselves.

“This grant is going to be key in providing these spaces as well as improving our counselling and meeting rooms, so that our users feel really welcome and at ease when they come to us.” 

Domestic abuse accounts for 16% of all violent crime, is the single most quoted reason for people becoming homeless and will affect one in four women and one in six men in their lifetimes. Some 2.4 million adults in England and Wales experienced domestic abuse in 2021, according to crime survey figures published in November by the Office for National Statistics. 

Sue Heyes, Severn Trent Community Fund Officer, said: “The work that LWA undertakes is a real necessity for so many people who have been victims of horrific abuse at home and it is fantastic that they are giving so much focus to the needs of their wonderful staff who deliver these vital services every single day. 

“We are always looking for more local projects in the regions in which we work which would benefit from grant funding and would encourage anyone who may be applicable to get in touch.” 

For more information on the Severn Trent Community Fund and to find out how to make an application visit stwater.co.uk and search for Community Fund. 

For further media information: 02477 715 640 or email: media@severntrent.co.uk  

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