West Cornwall Women’s Aid provides accommodation, information and support to women and children experiencing abusive relationships. Services include a refuge, a helpline and an outreach and counselling service for women in the area. Their refuge can accommodate up to 11 women and 16 children. The project aims to raise the profile and promote awareness of domestic abuse and its effects.

“The Church Urban Fund grant will enable us to refurbish our new premises, including new heating, flooring and electrical work. This is hugely important to us, as we will then be able to provide all our services from under one roof,” says Catherine Lunt, Manager of West Cornwall Women’s Aid. “At present we are operating from three different locations. The move will greatly reduce our running costs and make us more accessible to the women and children who are so in need of our help and support. It will also allow us to provide in-house training for other statutory bodies.”

The Church Urban Fund supports community projects around the country, who are practically tackling local issues in the poorest communities. Cornwall has one of the highest proportions of low paid workers in England, with average earnings lower than any other county. Domestic violence has been linked with poverty, drug misuse, bad housing, lack of job opportunities and poor work conditions. In Cornwall domestic violence goes under-reported, with less than one in four complaints leading to an arrest.

“As well as the physical risks, the emotional damage caused by repeated abuse can have serious long term effects including loss of confidence, mental health problems and low achievement at school,” says Catherine. “Fleeing domestic violence can also lead to homelessness. We are trying to help combat some of these effects so that local women and children who have suffered abuse can lead a normal life.”

Pat Evemy, Development Manager for the Church Urban Fund, says, “With one in four women experiencing domestic violence at some point in their lives, it is a pleasure to be able to help enhance the services provided by West Cornwall Women’s Aid. The project has a good track record in helping the victims of domestic violence and we look forward to seeing this record get even better.”

For more information or to request an interview, contact Sara Stafford-Williams, Communications Manager for Church Urban Fund, on 020 7898 1668 or email sara.stafford-williams@cuf.org.uk

Other key areas of work include partnering with other organisations to tackle the causes of poverty, advocating on behalf of faith communities at national level and the development of research and resources to support the work of local initiatives.

Over the nearly twenty years in which the Church Urban Fund has been working, it has been involved in giving grants to projects, which has often resulted in other funders also investing in the project.

The Church Urban Fund has awarded over 4,500 grant totaling £55 million to projects working in England's poorest communities.

Church Urban Fund is a Registered Charity, No: 297483

Facts sourced from:

• http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=246
• http://www.womensaid.org.uk/page.asp?section=0001000100050002
• http://www.bris.ac.uk/poverty/Regional%20poverty_files/cornw96/Sec_1.pdf