The Eastlondonlines areas have seen cuts of more than a fifth to funding for domestic violence services since 2010. Amidst huge cuts to local council budgets by national government, it seems services for vulnerable women are taking the hit. Often, the stories of what happens to these women are left untold when such statistics are rolled out.
The closure of Hopetown hostel, one of the last women’s-only hostels in East London, for example, was dedicated just 4022 words in total by three media outlets, two thirds of them published on ELL. You can read more about Hopetown here.
This investigation details refuge closures across the boroughs, with exclusive data on budget cuts that are pushing refuge services to breaking point. But most importantly, it follows the stories of local survivors who have had their lives blighted by cuts; identifies the local women who have lost their lives at the hands of a partner; and shares the voices of campaigners fighting to end domestic violence in our area. We leave our readers with information on what you can do to help.
Day 1:
- Domestic violence cuts explained: a short video
- The complex reality behind local refuge cuts
- ‘Til death do us part: ELL remembers the women killed by their partner
Day 2:
- ‘There weren’t enough already’: a domestic violence survivor questions budget cuts
- How women put domestic violence on the map: a timeline
Day 3:
Day 4:
- ‘We’re running on nothing’: how an unfunded domestic violence service survives
- Sisters Uncut: A local campaign group saving women’s lives
Please interact with the series this week by taking our polls and quizzes, and by tweeting or commenting with suggestions of local campaigners in your area. Your voice can help domestic violence survivors become more than just a statistic.
Follow our Right To Refuge series this week to find out more about the domestic violence crisis in our boroughs. #RightToRefuge
