A region-wide project to help the victims of domestic abuse has secured government funding amounting to £639,000.

This share of the pledged £20 million for services across the UK, comes after Solihull Council led a bid on behalf of seven West Midlands local authorities.

The bid aims to provide more refuge spaces for women and children, improve services for victims with particular needs and build on the cross regional support available.

The West Midlands councils involved are Solihull, Coventry, Birmingham, Sandwell, Dudley, Walsall and Wolverhampton and Women's Aid groups in Coventry, Wolverhampton, Birmingham and Solihull and the Black Country. Councillor Gaye Partridge, cabinet member responsible for community safety, said:

“This is a devastating crime that ruins lives and sadly, 10% of recorded crime in the West Midlands is domestic abuse and these are only the cases we know about.

“Through this bid we’re building on existing regional partnerships, strengthening support available across the West Midlands and looking at ways to develop timely and dedicated services for target groups. I look forward to seeing the impact this funding will have.”

Regional developments could also include providing specialist services and enhancing support for victims with particular needs. The partnership working across the region will feed in to future planning and development, shaping improved services in the long term.