Funds cut for 'in high demand' VAWG support charity

Funding for violence against women and girls (VAWG) support services has been cut amid "unprecedented demand" for their services, said a charity CEO.

Kate Wright, of Freeda, said she was concerned the charity would not be able to meet the demand, despite the government describing VAWG as a "priority".

Home Affairs Minister Deputy Mary Le Hegarat said it was "critical" that police, law officers, prisons and survivor after-care services were correctly funded.

She said investment into VAWG support services would be a "phased cost" and based on spending benchmarks from other countries.

The minister added that the number of reported violence against women and girls (VAWG) crimes had risen 27% since a 2023 report was launched.

The latest progress report into VAWG in Jersey said increasing numbers of reported crimes and demand for support services meant it was "important" they were "appropriately resourced and funded".

The 2026 progress report said rising reports did not mean more crimes were taking place but instead "suggests that awareness of these issues has improved" and "more victim-survivors are feeling empowered to access support".

It said 68 of the recommendations set out in 2023 had now been completed or needed no further action.

One of four recommendations not yet started was improved street lighting at Snow Hill, which Le Hegarat said was scheduled for 2027.

Wright said due to low funding for support services there was "a real risk" victim-survivors would not be able to access support and perpetrators would walk free.

She described the lack of investment as a "missed opportunity for real system change".

Wright said: "My plea to the government right now is that they really consider where there might be funding and prioritise some of these support agencies."

She said Freeda had received "considerably less" government funding this year and the charity would have to find more money.

Wright said: "We're working very hard to find funding from elsewhere, which is incredibly challenging in the current economic climate."

Follow BBC Jersey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk.