Boost for projects tackling violence against women

Grassroots organisations tackling violence against women and girls will receive a funding boost of £3m.

The mayor of London has also pledged this extra support for those working with domestic abuse survivors.

It comes as charities raise concerns over the cost-of-living crisis making it difficult for women to escape from their abusers.

The funding marks the second stage of the mayor's Violence Against Women and Girls Grassroots Fund.

The extra support brings the total fund up to £6m. It has already supported more than 30,000 Londoners across 40 projects since 2020.

Organisations have until the end of August to apply for the latest round of grants of up to £100,000.

One organisation benefitting from the funding is Kiran Support Services, an organisation that supports Asian women.

Based in Waltham Forest, north-east London, Kiran Support has been supporting women and children experiencing domestic abuse in all its forms for more than 30 years.

Nida, not her real name, has been helped by the refuge after she and her daughter escaped her abusive husband with the help of a local shopkeeper.

She told the BBC she still remembered how hard it was escaping her abuser, as he told her that if she reported him the authorities would take away her children.

"When I came to the refuge I was supported by staff here who explained the law to me as well as other simple things like how to get a bus."

She added she had struggled a lot in the past two years but is slowly gaining more confidence.

"I have explained to my daughter the laws in this country and her human rights so she doesn't have to struggle".

Amtal Rana, CEO of the organisation, said: "The funding that Kiran received in 2021 to 2023 was critical to our charity in helping us to sustain our community outreach service for south Asian women and girls who are survivors of violence against women and girls.

"The grant enabled us to support 718 women between August 2021 and March 2023, and without this grant these women would have been signposted to generic services, which offer limited support and have a lack of understanding of the complex intersectional needs of south Asian women."

She added "many of these women would have returned to abusive households, as their needs would not have been met".

Follow BBC London on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected]