An East Lancashire local authority is going out to tender for a £404,000 a year contract to support victims of domestic abuse and provide safe refuges.

Blackburn with Darwen Council's current contract for the service runs out on March 31.

Now its public health boss Cllr Damian Talbot is seeking authority from the body's executive board meeting on Thursday to start the procurement process for a new three-year deal.

In a report, he says: "The current Domestic Abuse Service commission is due to end on March 31, 2025, with no option to extend the commission beyond this date.

"There is a need to commence the procurement and commissioning process to meet required deadlines to enable new contracts to be in place from April 1, 2025.

"An independently commissioned Domestic Abuse Needs Assessment was completed July 2024 which will help inform the detail and direction for any future provision.

"The existing overall contract value is approximately £404,000 per annum. It is anticipated that the future service value will be at a similar level, however, the contract value will be determined by the funding available to the council.

"Funding for the Domestic Abuse Service is currently made up from a combination of local authority, Police and Crime Commissioner, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and Public Health.

"The Blackburn with Darwen Domestic Abuse Strategy outlines four main priorities for domestic abuse: prevention and early intervention; protecting those at greatest risk of harm; partnership working; and pursuing perpetrators.

"The existing Domestic Abuse Service provision can be summarised into three categories: community provision (services provided such as Independent Domestic Violence Advisers, counselling, Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference support and victim, young person and perpetrator programmes); accommodation-based services (safe accommodation, refuge provision hosts young person domestic violence advisor, independent domestic violence advisor support, counselling and therapies) and floating support services (help support victims and children; this can be in the form of caseworkers).

"Any new service provision will be required to protect vulnerable people and support victims of crime in line with our statutory duties and provide a holistic domestic abuse service which meets the need of the people of Blackburn with Darwen."