A REGION wide project to help victims of domestic abuse has secured £639,000 of government funding.

The funding will be used to provide more refuge spaces for women and children, improve services for victims with particular needs and build on the cross regional support available.

Part of a pledged £20 million for services across the UK – the share of the cash comes after Solihull Council led a bid on behalf of seven West Midlands local authorities.

Dudley Council was among the councils involved along with Solihull, Coventry, Birmingham, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton as well as Women's Aid groups in Coventry, Wolverhampton, Birmingham and Solihull and the Black Country.

Councillor Gaye Partridge, Dudley’s cabinet member responsible for community safety, said: “Winning this funding really shows the impact of regional partnership working. By working together we can provide better support to victims of domestic abuse.

“This is a devastating crime that ruins lives and sadly, 10 per cent of recorded crime in the West Midlands is domestic abuse and these are only the cases we know about.

“Through this bid we’re building on existing regional partnerships, strengthening support available across the West Midlands and looking at ways to develop timely and dedicated services for target groups.

“I look forward to seeing the impact this funding will have.”