Purpose

Services include training and
awareness raising projects in Stratford-on-Avon
District.

Content

To endorse the use of
£30,000 from Stratford-on-Avon District Council’s
budget to provide funding to two organisations, Refuge and
Loudmouth Training and Education, to raise awareness of domestic
abuse within Stratford-on-Avon District.

 

That administration
of the funding is delegated to the Head of Law and Governance and
Monitoring Officer.

Reasons for the decision

As a part of the budget
allocation for Stratford-on-Avon District Council’s Community
Safety Team, in 2025/26 £30,000 was provided for the
following purpose:
 
‘Women’s Aid Domestic Violence project support,
training, community awareness & work with partners –
£30,000. Funding for the organisation to ensure the
availability of their services within the
district.’
 
Following engagement with the
Warwickshire Domestic Abuse Commissioner, it was established that
other organisations provided services within Warwickshire that have
established, trusted networks in the district. Refuge is the

Warwickshire Domestic Violence
Service, providing a
countywide service that offers help and support to women, men and
children experiencing domestic violence in Warwickshire. Refuge
will provide training and awareness raising in Stratford-on-Avon
District to encourage residents to seek support and engage with
them. Refuge will also raise awareness with professionals and
provide training, considering rural challenges in countering
domestic abuse.
 
Loudmouth is a theatre and
education company which provides awareness raising programmes.
Within the district, it has provided high quality programmes on a
range of topics including county lines, knife crime and domestic
abuse. With part of this funding, Loudmouth will offer interactive
theatre sessions on domestic abuse and healthy relationships in all
secondary schools in Stratford-on-Avon District.
 
The vision for
Stratford-on-Avon District Council (2023-27) is to be an ambitious,
fair, inclusive, and responsible organisation which will put its
communities at the heart of everything it does. In providing this
funding, the Council seeks to ensure that the wellbeing and safety
of the public are the utmost priority.
 
 

Alternative options considered

1    
To endorse the use of
£30,000 to provide funding to Refuge and Loudmouth Training
and Education.
2    
To reject the
endorsement of the use of funding to Refuge and Loudmouth Training
and Education.
3    
To request further information.