Domestic abuse in Salford is rising as the city council prepares to spend nearly £3 million over the next three years on support services for survivors and their children.
A report set to be presented to cabinet outlines how Salford City Council will allocate funding required under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, which places a duty on local authorities to provide support for victims living in safe accommodation such as refuges or emergency housing.
The council is set to receive £943,694 in 2026/27, £984,489 in 2027/28 and £1,017,661 in 2028/29, giving a total allocation of £2,945,844 over the three-year period.
The funding will be distributed across a range of services including crisis support, housing advice, refuge provision, specialist resettlement services and peer support groups for survivors. Much of the funding will go to the Safe in Salford service, which provides advice and crisis support to victims of domestic abuse, as well as resettlement assistance to help survivors move into long-term housing.
The report comes as new figures suggest domestic abuse remains a significant and growing issue locally. Data referenced in the council’s needs assessment shows the proportion of people aged 16 and over experiencing domestic abuse across England and Wales rose from 4.6% to 7.8% in 2023/24.
Salford has also seen increases in reported incidents and recorded the fourth highest number of domestic abuse incidents in Greater Manchester during 2024/25.
The assessment also highlights how domestic abuse often involves ongoing patterns of harm. Half of all high-risk cases referred to in the multi-agency risk assessment conference (MARAC) in Salford over the past three years involved repeat victims. Meanwhile, 44% of MARAC cases in 2024/25 involved children living in the household where abuse was taking place.
The council says the funding will help maintain existing services while addressing gaps identified in its latest review. Survivors and frontline workers said improved mental health support, quicker access to financial assistance and better services for children affected by abuse were among the most urgent priorities.
However, the report also raises questions about the reach of some services. A mental health support programme funded through the scheme supported just 10 victims during 2024/25, despite receiving tens of thousands of pounds in funding.
The report admitted that the low figure partly reflects problems with how referrals were recorded and acknowledged that monitoring systems had previously been weak. Work is now underway with the provider to improve referral pathways and ensure support for domestic abuse survivors is properly recorded.
Cabinet members have been asked to approve funding allocations of £862,946 for the coming year, with the remainder of the grant held in reserve to allow flexibility if demand increases or additional services are required.
You can read the full report here: https://sccdemocracy.salford.gov.uk/documents/s91502/DA%20support%20in%20safe%20accommodation%20cabinet%20funding%20report%20final.pdf
