Domestic abuse scheme wins praise

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A new service to help domestic abuse victims has won Home Office recognition and a £10,000 grant to help develop the initiative.

It comes as events are held to mark the United Nation's official day for the elimination of violence against women.

The scheme in Flintshire sets targets for neighbourhood wardens to visit victims of domestic abuse.

Wardens then carry out security assessments designed to help victims stay in their own homes.

The project was set up by Flintshire Council and works with North Wales Police, Victim Support and Welsh Women's Aid.

To know that you can get that response in eight hours is fantastic Tracy Tanner, Women's Aid

As soon as a referral involving domestic abuse is made to the neighbourhood warden teams, they are given a target of eight hours to respond and visit the victim's home.

"We've been absolutely delighted by the response from the neighbourhood wardens," said Tracy Tanner from Delyn Women's Aid.

"The response from the women too is they can't believe that the wardens have come out so soon.

Following an assessment, work is carried out to tighten household security, upgrading locks, windows and fitting alarms if necessary.

"To know that you can get that response in eight hours is fantastic," added Ms Tanner.

Nearly 100 domestic violence referrals have been made in Flintshire since the scheme was launched a year ago, with the eight-hour target hit every time.

The Home Office has awarded the project £10,000 so it can be further developed.

"Innovative"

Councillor Bernie Attridge, who holds the housing portfolio in Flintshire, applauded the scheme's success.

He said: "I am pleased that the innovative hard work put in by our neighbourhood wardens in supporting the survivors of domestic violence has been recognised not just in Wales but across the UK.

"I'm especially pleased that the government has recognised the successes of the work we've undertaken and awarded us more resources to develop this vital support service."

A number of events will take place across Wales on Friday to mark the United Nations' international day highlighting the issue of domestic violence.

A candle-lit vigil will be held in Bonymaen, Swansea, while at Queensferry in Flintshire 1,000 balloons will be released.

Welsh Women's Aid said one in four women will be affected by the issue at some point in their life, and official statistics show that police in Wales receive more than 26,000 calls a year reporting violence in the home.