Decision details

Greater Manchester published it’s Gender-Based Violence Strategy in September 2021. Within this there was a commitment to look at the needs of male victims of Gender-Based Violence. Therefore, the securing of a male refuge and bespoke support for male victims will begin to address this need, and additionally enable us to better identify what the needs of male victims are in future.

GMCA has allocated funding to the delivery of the GBV Strategy. Through providing contributory funding to the GM Male Refuge GMCA is both recognising that this will begin to address some of the priorities within the strategy and will also contribute to the overall GM offer to male victims and an ability to provide accommodation to up to 12 male victims of domestic abuse every year within a 6-bed refuge.

Trafford are using a cross-commissioning and collaboration approach to this across Greater Manchester, and it is key we contribute alongside our local authority partners to the development of the male refuge.

£15,000 of contributory funding be provided to Trafford Council to contribute to the costs of 1 Full-time male worker and 1 Part-time male worker within a new 6 bed male refuge.

Trafford Council’s Domestic Abuse JSNA identified that there was a gap in their provision for male victims of domestic abuse. Trafford Council and Trafford Domestic Abuse Advisory Service (TDAS) have developed a 5-year business case for a male refuge.

The refuge will be located within Trafford but will accept referrals from across Greater Manchester and TDAS will be the service provider.

Currently, local authorities can house male victims of domestic abuse within dispersed accommodation when the place is available. Other than Rochdale (which has 2 dedicated spaces for male victims), no other Greater Manchester borough has dedicated accommodation for male victims of domestic abuse. Consequently, Greater Manchester is not adequately nor effectively meeting its legal duties under Part 4 of the Domestic Abuse Act (2021).

Trafford will fund the set-up costs for the provision and have asked for cross borough support with funding the support element which will include 1 FT Male worker and 1PT Male worker. Local authorities across GM have been asked to contribute to this and 9 have confirmed contributory funding.

Therefore, GMCA has agreed to contribute an amount of £15,000. This is one off funding for start-up costs and initial service implementation in year one of the project.