The Rail to Refuge scheme is a joint programme between rail companies and Women’s Aid. The schemes worked by train operators cover the cost of train tickets for victims of abuse. Meaning women, men and children escaping domestic abuse have free train travel to refuge accommodation.
How does The Rail to Refuge scheme work?
Reaching Out
A survivor reaches out for support from a domestic abuse service which is a member of:
- Women’s Aid
- Welsh Women’s Aid
- Scottish Women’s Aid
- Imkaan (including Respect’s Men’s Advice Line)
Referred to a Refuge
If appropriate, the survivor will be referred to a refuge and will be informed once a refuge vacancy has been confirmed.
Booking a free ticket
The refuge books a free train ticket for the survivors of domestic abuse
Collecting a Ticket
The refuge can send the ticket and collection details to the survivor via a mobile phone. The survivor can then either use an e-ticket sent to their mobile phone. Alternatively they can pick the ticket up from the station using any debit or credit card. They can travel like normal, without having to declare the ticket was free or that they are fleeing from domestic abuse.
Domestic Abuse Report 2023
The Annual Audit gives an overview of the domestic abuse support services available in England. It includes provision and usage, during the financial year 2021–2022.
Key Findings of the Domestic Abuse Report:
Here are the findings from the latest 2023 report into domestic abuse throughout the financial year 2021 – 2022.
Struggling With Access
Many women struggled to access services equipped to meet their needs. Almost a quarter of survivors (22.3%) reported having a physical health disability. However, only 1.1% of refuge vacancies listed on Routes to Support in 2021-22 were suitable for a woman with limited mobility.Just 0.9% of vacancies could accommodate a woman requiring a wheelchair accessible space.
NRPF
Whilst 4,611 (12.1%) service users were not British nationals and, of these, 30% did not have recourse to public funds (NRPF). Only 9.1% of all vacancies could consider women with NRPF.
Supporting Children
Most women (62.0%) had children, with an average of 1.3 children per service user. Yet less than half of refuge vacancies could accommodate a woman with two children.
Shortfalls To the Service
Shortfalls persist in refuge bedspaces and vacancies:
Bedspaces
The increase we saw in the number of bedspaces during 2020-21 was largely as a result of emergency Covid-19 funding. It appears to have been sustained over 2021-22 and bedspaces have increased (1st May 2022) by a further 55. There is, however, still a 23.2% shortfall.
Reduced Vacancies
Meanwhile, despite this increase in the number of spaces, 229 fewer vacancies were made available during 2021-22 overall compared to 2020-21. Vacancies were already at significantly lower levels due to the impact of the pandemic.
Service Experience
Experiences of service providers around the implementation of the duty were mixed:
Increases in Dedicated Funding
Some reported feeling optimism for service expansion from the increase in dedicated funding. 49.2% of respondents running refuge services had received funding as a result of the statutory duty. However, there were also significant concerns around the commercialisation of commissioning and variation in the way that local authorities. These were interpreting the regulations and guidance.
Decommissioning Specialist Services
Services were concerned about decommissioning of specialist services. Particularly those run by and for Black and minority women, in favour of competitive tenders.ore generic housing-focused providers and taking services ‘in-house’ were also a concern.
What Does This Mean?
More needs to be done to help vulnerable men, women and children fleeing domestic abuse. If you’re worried about domestic abuse and want to know what options you have regarding Occupation Orders and Non-Molestation Orders contact us today.
For more information from the report, view the full Annual Audit here.
