Women’s Refuge faces cash crisis
Wednesday 4th November 2009, 3:00PM GMT.
Rozelle Sutherland, chairman of the management committee, and manager Lorna Kearney in the Women's Refuge
A SAFE haven for women suffering domestic violence and abuse runs the risk of closure, as donations have fallen by 80 per cent.
Jersey Women’s Refuge is facing serious financial problems and has been hit hard by the economic crisis.
With around 19 women a week using the charity, there is now major concern for the future of the 24-hour service, which offers women and their children a place of safety.
Manager Lorna Kearney said: ‘No one else in Jersey offers refuge to women experiencing domestic violence and abuse. Women are brought to us from all different places – the police, the Hospital, their friends – or they come themselves.
‘Our service needs to be available 24 hours a day. If we don’t get the funds, what will we do? What will women and children do if they turn up on our doorstep in the middle of the night and no one’s here?’
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another thing that is needed in jersey,but has to survive on hand outs from the good of the public.
this is the kind of thing that should be getting funding instead of resurfacing , not so bad cycle paths .
if i see someone with a bucket in town i will be putting something in it, as i am sure many other will, hopefully.
you people do a sterling job.
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Stop Syvret’s money from the Tax Payer then give it to the Ladies’ Refuge. Whilst we are about it rather than waste £10,000,000 on an unneeded park plus the running costs why don’t we build a centre for these families which would also teach anger control, alcohol and drug respect, ect. ect. to their husbands,wives, or partners. Too naff an idea I expect, it is like suggesting that rather than waste the rate payers money on Tresor it would be spent on real social issues.
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I agree wholeheartedly with comment (1) by David Brown. Our marvellous government are happy to fork out money for useless stone signs that point the wrong way, hand out cash to alcoholics and drug addicts, and generally squander our money on useless white elephants – yet, when it comes to something like this, it’s deemed to be unworthy..?!
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People donate to charities as and when they can afford to. In the present economic environment there is less ‘loose change’ in the average pocket. Therefore donations are less. The situation has been exacerbated by little or no pay rises and ever increasing prices as demonstrated by the recent ‘budget’.
I agree that the States should be in a position to support worthy causes, but unfortunately I fear this will never happen. The hard working people running the Refuge and other such charitable organisations will have to rely on that alone; charity.
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Totally agree with David Brown, we are throwing away money on crap no one wants and not providing funding for essential services like the refuge. I had no idea it was funded entirely by charity, I can understand that people will give less to charity in difficult economic times but this service cannot be allowed to suffer.
Jersey government – provide funding, provide it now – full stop.
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This sadly is a charity that can’t be closed due to the sad need of it. I make a bank donation each month as do so many. The states have to find funding and using Syvrets salary would I agree be a good start along with several others in the states.
It is a charity that can’t be failed not only are women at risk but so to are children where it is a refuge also.
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This facility should not be a charity.
I for one have no problem with my taxes being spent on maintaining such a necessary service
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Well said comments 1 – 7, I agree totally, the States members all need their heads banging together if they can not help these hard working people do something that is critical and needed for the safety of the victims and their children.
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http://www.jerseywomensrefuge.org/
> Donate
If anyone is feeling generous today!
I agree with 7, this should not be a charity, this should be a service that is permanently available to those in need.
the people who keep Womens Refuge running and the people who use it should never need to feel fear that oneday the doors may be closed in their faces – due to a lack of funding. sadly i have no faith in the states to provide them money so I have donated £10 myself by visiting the above site
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Jersey Heritage receives an annual States’ grant of £1.8 million, and are about to receive a further grant of £800,000 on top of the emergency £200,000 that they received earlier this year…
Well, if there’s enough cash in the coffers for the “badly managed Jersey Heritage”, then there should be funds for the Women’s Refuge too!
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thanks for the link, popp(9)
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Thank you to everyone who has supported the Refuge and made donations. I would like to thank you all on behalf of everyone at Refuge especially the women and children who need our help every year.
The Refuge now has a facebook page so I hope you will become fans and keep up to date with whats going on at Refuge.
Best wishes
Lorna Kearney
Refuge Manager
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Miss Demeanor # 5 I totally agree with you on this – We are throwing away money on projects that nobody wants and not providing funding for essential services like the Women’s Refuge.
The States should provide funding and provide it now; end of story….not to do so would be a felony; or is that a Misdemeanor.
Like Piston Broke # 2 (shouldn’t spend so much on booze) said, maybe Senator Stuart Syvret would like to make a donation from the salary he is now not earning.
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The Womens refuge is an excellent and needed charity.
If the Cm Terry Le Suer can afford to give Mr Steven Izatt £30,000 bonus, which during question time it was confirmed, are you ready for this
The bonus was not a productivity bonus said Cm Le Suer.(Hansard)
Then obviously we have plenty of money to throw around, or tax those on more than £150,000 not 50P on the pound (like the UK bestpractice) but £30p in the pound above £150,000.
Mr Izatt (paid £275,000 2008)the gentleman would then contribute £37,500,and still have a tea chest full of money. Seems fair to me.
Davey.
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The womens refuge has been a help to so many, including myself on two occastions, both when i was under the age of 16. The support they offer is a tribute to the island and really to mankind. The states of jersey need to pull their finger out and realise the seriousness of people suffering domestic abuse having nowhere or no-one to turn to. On an island this size, how easy is it really to run away from an abuser without the help of the refuge?
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