Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 32
32
Accepted
Paragraph: 113
Create national multi-year ring-fenced fund for specialist victim support service grants
Recommendation
We recognise the challenges for local commissioners in identifying and funding small or highly specialist services, and for those services to access commissioned funding. We recommend that the Government put in place a national multi-year ring-fenced fund to ensure specialist support services are supported and for that funding to be available in the simpler grant form. This fund should complement a responsibility on PCCs, health and local authorities to commission ‘by and for’ services, including through co-commissioning at a regional level where necessary.
Government Response Summary
The government commits up to £6 million for 'by and for' services and £2.5 million for specialist services over two years (2023/24-2024/25), but rejects placing a specific responsibility on local commissioners to commission 'by and for' services.
Paragraph Reference:
113
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
53. The Government recognises the importance of multi-year funding for ‘by and for’ and specialist support services, and is addressing this outside of the Victims Bill. As part of the Government’s commitment to tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG), the Government has committed up to £6 million in a specific funding stream for ‘by and for’ services over two years, from 2023/24 to 2024/25. This funding comes alongside a further up to £2.5 million, including £1.5 million for specialist services during the same period. This funding package, £8.5 million in total, will help ensure that victims are able to access the specialist or ‘by and for’ service that is right for them. 54. To recognise the importance of tailored services to meet the diverse needs of victims, the Bill already requires commissioners to have regard to the needs of those with protected characteristics when preparing their joint commissioning strategy. However, it is important to allow local commissioners to have discretion over which services best support victims in their local context of varied need and available provision. During our consultation, we heard some commissioners choose to integrate tailored support within broader services, or undertake other activity to support smaller providers. Therefore, we do not consider that it would be appropriate to place a responsibility on local commissioners to specifically commission ‘by and for’ services.