Is the UK Government’s new ‘flee fund’ for survivors of domestic abuse a good idea?

Bekah Legg, CEO of Restored, a Christian charity with a mission to speak up about violence against women and girls, comments on the Government’s new scheme, and says that while it is much needed, churches need to step up too. 

A new scheme is launching this month to provide a ‘flee fund’ for survivors of domestic abuse. Last year a pilot project saw 600 women given £250 or £500; most women used the money to flee to a safe location and buy essentials such as food, nappies, and even security cameras.

The success of that pilot has led to this new £2 million scheme, which will provide an additional £2,500 to be used as a rental deposit or to pay bills.

This kind of fund could prove to be a lifeline for women who have felt trapped with their abusers. One of the many myths that surround domestic abuse is that if the abuse were ‘that bad’ then the victim would just leave. The reality just isn’t that simple: fear, isolation and sometimes even faith can hold women with abusers, believing that leaving simply isn’t a viable option.