11Jul 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Domestic abuse victims to get priority for council accommodation

Domestic abuse victims to get priority for council accommodation

Borough news, CSE, domestic abuse and violence
Victims of violence in the home are to get automatically prioritised for council accommodation following a changes to the law in the Domestic Abuse Act. Local Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani has welcome the changes, saying that it is a “clear move to provide support for victims, and simple, practical improvements to help people get away from abusers”. Previously, victims had to be separately assessed as being ‘vulnerable’ as a result of domestic abuse to be identified as having a priority need. Now, domestic abuse will be a standalone reason for qualifying. Councillor Al-Hamdani said: “It’s terrifying to know how many people are victims of this. There are over 400 cases a month reported across the UK, and this is known to be a massively underreported crime. “How would you…
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30Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Retain Rail to Refuge to save women from abusive relationships, says Liberal Democrat Leader

Retain Rail to Refuge to save women from abusive relationships, says Liberal Democrat Leader

Borough news, CSE, domestic abuse and violence
Marking the UN Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the Oldham Liberal Democrats have written to government ministers asking for the Rail to Refuge scheme, which supplies free train tickets to enable women to flee domestic violence, to be made permanent. The letter sent by the Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, on behalf of his colleagues to the Secretary of State for Transport, Garth Shapps MP, and the Home Office Minister responsible for safeguarding women and children, Victoria Atkins MP, suggests that retaining the scheme is both a ‘necessary and logical thing’ to do. Councillor Sykes has also twice written to the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, seeking his support. During the Covid-19 pandemic, domestic violence has hugely increased. Tragically, two women are killed…
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16Jun 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

From rail to refuge, let’s keep victims safe!

Borough news, Campaigns
Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group and Leader of the Opposition on Oldham Council, is trying to rally Greater Manchester bosses around a new way to help victims of domestic abuse.  The ‘Rail to Refuge’ scheme, is an essential but little-known lifeline.  It provides a lifeline to those fleeing domestic violence.  Rail to Refuge supports victims of domestic abuse by advising them to seek safety in a refuge well away from their abuser.  There have been worries that the scheme is not well publicised and that this is a temporary fix. Rail to Refuge helps by purchasing a rail ticket for the victim to flee a situation of abuse.  Unfortunately, the Scheme has been time limited to the Covid-19 lockdown period.  Councillor Sykes is calling for…
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