ACCOMMODATION for domestic abuse victims is set to be transformed thanks to thousands of pounds of grant money.

Lancashire’s police and crime commissioner has allocated more than £300,000 to projects across Lancashire which will be put towards improving the lives of children in refuges and supporting victims to recover from their ordeals.

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Clive Grunshaw said the idea behind the money was to help 12 organisations fund projects that may otherwise have been neglected, such as revamping refuges and support centres, purchasing play equipment and buying new technology for support staff.

In East Lancashire, successful organisations include Blackburn with Darwen Council, which will receive £30,000 to upgrade its two refuges and £20,000 to allow Humraaz to upgrade its case management system and IT and purchase new equipment for its centre.

Cllr Mohammed Khan, executive member for health and adult social care at the council, said: “This is great news. This money will really help the women, who are some of the most vulnerable in our community, if they have to flee their homes.”

Greater Together, a consortium of 80 Lancashire organisations which has the Lancashire County Council contract to deliver services for high and medium-risk victims in East and Central Lancashire, will receive £45,520 to design, develop and implement a case management system with a shared database for all organisations.

Three safe houses in Burnley, which are run by SafeNet Domestic Abuse Service, will receive their share of £56,148 to refurbish the refuges, purchase new service leaflets and posters, improve the refuges to make them accessible for disabled victims and purchase safety equipment for victims.

Pendle Domestic Violence Initiative will receive £2,304 to buy phone and data packages and tablets for staff and Lancashire Women’s Centres will create new counselling rooms in Accrington and Blackburn with its £35,600 grant.

The charity will also use the money to furnish a counselling room in Nelson and create emergency packs for women containing one night’s food and toiletries.

Mr Grunshaw said: “Domestic abuse victims need to be able to access support to help them cope, recover and ultimately rebuild their lives – and that applies to both men and women, as well as any children who may be affected.

“Lancashire has some excellent organisations which dedicate themselves to trying to improve the lives of victims county-wide, and I am delighted I was able to secure this money for Lancashire to help them improve their facilities.

“I’m committed to fighting for money from the government which will benefit Lancashire’s most vulnerable people, and I was impressed by the aspirations of the successful organisations to really make a difference.

“As a county We need to stand up to domestic abuse, support those who are victims and make it clear abuse, of any form, will not be tolerated in our communities.”