Decision details

This report presents an application for funding under the Council’s Community Funding programme.

An application has been received from Stop Domestic Abuse, the trading arm of the Southern Domestic Abuse Service (SDAS), for £4,999 from the Community Fund towards the replacement of the carpet and curtains at the Fareham Women’s Refuge.

The Refuge is run by the charity SDAS and is a crucial facility for the area, providing a place of safety and support for women and children fleeing domestic abuse.  Through the year 2020, 21 women and 27 children benefitted from the provision of this service. 

The building is owned by Bournemouth Churches Housing Association Ltd.  SDAS’ current lease for the premises has been extended to 2024 to coincide with the duration of their contract with Hampshire County Council to provide domestic abuse support across the East of Hampshire.

Many of the carpets and blinds in the Refuge are old and worn.  Stop Domestic Abuse is seeking funds to enable the replacement of the most worn carpets, blinds and curtains.  The total cost of the project is £5,624 comprising of £3,438 for carpets, £620 for nets and blinds and £1,566 for curtains. 

Stop Domestic Abuse is requesting a contribution of £4,999, with the remainder being funded by Southern Domestic Abuse Service’s own funds. 

As of March 2020, Southern Domestic Abuse Service listed £2,490,595 in unrestricted funds.  However, it is important to note that this is a vast service, which runs many projects focussed on providing support around domestic abuse across Hampshire and West Sussex.  These services include staffing refuges and providing outreach services to women, children and young people and men not staying in a refuge. 

The income and expenditure from the Fareham Refuge is designed to be cost-neutral for the charity, with the income from rental balancing the cost of maintenance.  However, for the financial year 2020/21, the Fareham Refuge budget was £1,214 in deficit due to lower occupancy rates during the Covid-19 Lockdown. 

Both Ward Councillors, Councillor Katrina Trott and Councillor Tom Davies, are supportive of the application.

RESOLVED that the application for £4,999 from Stop Domestic Abuse, towards the cost of replacing worn blinds, curtains and carpets at the Fareham Refuge, be approved.