Coventry City Council is co-ordinating the development of an overall strategy to help victims of domestic violence.

Roger Hughes, leader of the Social Justice team says:

"We are planning for the future. The city council recognises its responsibility for supporting victims of domestic violence, who are mostly women.

"We have been working with other partners such as the Health Service and voluntary groups to ensure that victims are offered a comprehensive range of services. For example they are advised about their rights, emergency accommodation, follow on accommodation, legal support, support for their children and matters of that sort, rather than being passed from pillar to post.

"The Government and the city council is placing a greater emphasis on helping victims of domestic violence and we know more now than we did a few years ago about the sort of things that people need.

"We are trying to plan for what we want to see happen in the next 3-5 years so that we can plan properly for funding."

Meanwhile the city council has approved additional funding of £50,000 a year for the next three years to help to support victims.

In addition one-year grants have been offered to the Cyrenians, Haven Refuge and Panahghar Asian Women’s Refuge. The Cyrenians have received £13,000 to continue to employ a women’s advice worker, whose post was due to terminate next month through lack of funds.