Refuge Budget Response: Just 1 in 6 UK adults believe Government spending is enough to halve violence against women and girls

Responding to the Autumn Budget, Ellie Butt, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Refuge, said: 

“Today’s Budget is a profound disappointment – not only to Refuge, but to the thousands of survivors who have been counting on the Government to finally take tangible action to tackle the epidemic of violence against women and girls (VAWG) through investment in specialist support services. 

“The public are also losing faith. New data that we commissioned via YouGov shows that only around 1 in 6 UK adults (16%) believe current Government spending is sufficient to meet the target to halve VAWG within the next decade. Nearly half (49%) say the Government is not investing enough, while 35% are unsure – raising serious concerns about how effectively the Government is engaging the public on this issue, despite its promise to deliver meaningful systemic change. 

“It has been almost 18 months since the Government was elected on a manifesto pledging to halve VAWG – an ambitious goal that is simply not achievable without sustainable, long-term funding for specialist support services.  

“The need for these services has never been more urgent. Today, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) released its annual figures on domestic abuse, revealing that an estimated 3.8 million people aged 16 and over in England and Wales experienced domestic abuse in the past year, including 2.2 million women. 

“While we welcome the positive impact that removing the two-child benefit cap will have for many survivors, lifesaving services continue to operate on a knife edge after years of chronic underfunding. The Autumn Budget was a critical moment for the Government to demonstrate its commitment to women and girls. Instead, it marks yet another missed opportunity to show survivors that it is serious about its pledge, with the Chancellor once again failing to prioritise VAWG in the Budget. 

“While we appreciate the strain on public finances, domestic abuse costs our economy £84 billion every year – a figure that could be significantly reduced with investment into specialist support services. An estimated shortfall of £307 million currently exists in spending on specialist domestic abuse services.  

“As the Government grapples with a fiscal black hole, the VAWG sector – and therefore survivors – bear the brunt of spending cuts. If the Government is serious about its pledge to halve VAWG, it cannot continue to neglect support services. 

“The VAWG sector is in a worse position than ever. Some services have been pushed beyond breaking point and are now being forced to close, and we still have no sign of the long-anticipated VAWG strategy. Although the funding gap pre-dated this Government, continued delays have caused lasting – and in some cases irreversible – damage to vital services. 

“For years, organisations across the VAWG sector have called for long-term, sustainable funding. Despite countless consultations, commitments, and statements of intent, we have yet to see the investment required to meet rising demand and ensure every survivor can access specialist support. 

“On average, a woman is killed by a current or former partner every five days in England and Wales – at least some of these deaths could be prevented if women had access to the vital support they deserve. Every day of Government delay costs lives, and crucial support services are running out of time due to inadequate funding. It is crucial the Government publish the VAWG strategy imminently, accompanied by clear spending commitments. Women and children cannot afford to wait any longer.”