Bath MP makes urgent appeal for the lifeline charity giving “Voices” to victims of Domestic Abuse 

Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, called for a debate in Parliament today (June 12) on providing greater Government support for long-term domestic abuse recovery services, rather than merely for crisis and risk-prevention. Her comments follow her recent meeting (May 29) with the staff and service users at VOICES, an independent Domestic Abuse charity based in the city. 

VOICES has been delivering vital independent Domestic Abuse services to families here in B&NES for over 10 years, giving victims and survivors an opportunity to recover and thrive after abuse. 

Founded by and for survivors, VOICES have a unique record for providing often life-saving wraparound support that includes specialist therapy, support with court processes and group programmes, that quite literally transforms and saves lives.

The Crime Survey in England and Wales (CSEW) estimated that 2.3 million people aged 16 years and over experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 2024, almost one in 20 people. Unsurprisingly the victim was female in 72.5% of those cases. 

It is alarming that 1 in 4 women will be affected by this, irrespective of social status. It may be more hidden in many households due to the stigma attached to domestic abuse.  

Given that incidences are often under-reported for obvious reasons, that’s around at least 1.6 million women suffering abuse – defined as an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) – at the hands of their intimate partners or a family member. 

In B&NES approximately 28,000 people have suffered domestic abuse, with over  8,000 individuals experiencing it each year.

So VOICES’ work to tackle Domestic Abuse is more vital than ever. 

But during her visit to the centre – the exact location of which remains confidential to ensure a secure space for victims to feel safe –  Wera heard that their unique service is now under threat. 

VOICES are facing a funding crisis which may mean they have to cease providing certain key services. 

During her visit Wera was shown around the therapeutic and reassuring space, and met the support team to understand VOICES’ specialist, trauma-informed services and pathways. 

She also met with VOICES’ clients and heard their very emotional personal stories. They told her about how VOICES’ long term recovery approach has positively impacted them – and said that without VOICES they “simply wouldn’t be here”. 

Wera was amazed to hear about VOICES’ groundbreaking work that is influencing policy locally, nationally and internationally. The family court guide co-created by VOICES is on the way to becoming a national standard and their years of involvement in Lived Experience research work has led to three articles in the British Medical Journal, International Journal and other important peer-reviewed journals.

The charity is currently engaged with over 200 women actively using their services, with another 89 on the waiting list. That waiting list is growing and their referral rate has never been higher. 

To make matters worse, there are approximately 225 children in these families, and when it’s factored in that 78% of children living with domestic abuse are directly harmed by the perpetrator of the abuse, in addition to the harm caused by witnessing the abuse of others, the true value of VOICES begins to become starkly clear. 

Also attending the visit was a representative from Southside, who refer clients of their own to VOICES for ongoing support once their work around immediate risk has been completed. He referred to VOICES as a “lifeline” for their clients. 

Moved by the visit, Wera brought VOICES’ plight to Parliament, raising the charity’s funding crisis during Business Questions and asking for a parliamentary debate on raising awareness and financial support for longer-term domestic abuse services – not just crisis and risk prevention. The Bath MP hailed VOICES as a ‘lifeline’ for service users and shared her concerns that without urgent funding, they will be forced to cut some essential services, putting women’s safety at risk, and threatening their chance to permanently escape abuse.

Lucy Powell, the Leader of the House of Commons, shared the Bath MP’s concern for VOICES and re-affirmed the Government’s ambition of halving violence against women and girls over the next 10 years. She committed to ensuring that the Bath MP receives a statement on VOICES’ situation from the Minister for Safeguarding, Jess Phillips.

Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, said: 

“I am so proud of the invaluable and vital work VOICES does, both for local victims of domestic abuse, and across the country with their research and policy work. Demand for their life changing services has never been higher, yet their very existence is under threat.

“We must do everything we can to ensure that these women and their families can continue to receive the specialist support they desperately need for their safety, wellbeing, and futures.

“I call on anyone who can help to donate to their crowdfunder or to get in touch with VOICES direct, or with my office with creative ideas on sharing resources or spaces.”

Emma Sambrook, Chair of Trustees at VOICES, said:

“It is impossible to quantify the full extent of what our city will lose if VOICES cannot find a way forward. 

“We provide a vital pathway that includes early intervention, and crisis and recovery services which are essential to prevent ongoing and future harm to the hundreds of women we support every year, and to their children. Creating a safe and happy future takes time, understanding and adequate funding. 

“Clients who recover and heal have the well-honed knowledge and understanding of DA to see the signs before engaging in new relationships going forward. They are then also in a position to advise and support other members of their family or friend groups in navigating safely through their relationships to themselves avoid perpetrators of  domestic abuse. So the ripple effect is community-wide.

“To add to this unquantifiable impact on a national level is the extraordinary work that we are doing on a legal front, contributing to the Local Family Justice Board, by co-creating the ‘Court Guide’ to help countless people with the complex Family Court System, when Legal Aid is almost non-existent. 

“Losing our support for women and families in Bath and North East Somerset will leave so many at risk of further harm.”

ENDS 

Notes to Editors:

1. Image attached of Wera Hobhouse MP with VOICES staff.
2. You can find Wera’s contribution in Parliament here.

Links:

1)  Court Guide: https://voicescharity.org/domestic-abuse-advisory-group-launches-new-guide-to-family-court-proceedings/

2)  Podcast: https://righttoequality.org/podcast/special-episode-supporting-domestic-abuse-survivors-in-family-court/

Donations to VOICES: VOICES – Domestic Abuse Charity | Localgiving

Journals: 

1.      https://www.bmj.com/content/373/bmj.n1047.short
2. https://doi.org/10.14324/RFA.07.1.06
3.   https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/1/e090017
4.      https://authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S0145-2134(25)00197-8