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Women's Resouce Centre (WRC) with Southall Black Sisters

Women with no recourse to Public Funds : Monday 7th June 2004

Strategy Meeting and Training (free of charge):

• Learn more about the current situation for women with no recourse to public funds (see below for more info)
• Learn about the campaign to change the law, and how you can get involved
• Learn about how to lobby and change laws
• Find practical, non-time-consuming ways to get involved
• Build alliances with other women's organisations working on this issue

This meeting and training is open to organisations working in the field of violence against women, and others who are interested in improving the situation for women with no recourse to public funds.

There will be an informal networking lunch from 12:30pm, and the training and strategy meeting will start at 1:30pm. The venue will be wheelchair accessible and in central London.

For more information or to book a place contact Isabel on 020 7426 9643 or isabel@wrc.org.uk, stating any access or dietary requirements.

Further info on women with no recourse to public funds:

Women who are subject to immigration control are not allowed recourse to public funds including social security benefits or housing under the Housing Act 1996. This means that women with no recourse who are fleeing abuse are even unable to access refuge spaces as these are maintained through rental income mainly funded by housing benefit. As a result many women subject to immigration control are trapped in violent relationships. They face a stark choice: either stay within the relationship and risk their lives, and those of their children, or leave and face destitution.

In 1999 the government introduced the "Domestic Violence Rule" which allowed women to apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK if a they can prove that their relationship broke down due to violence during the two year probationary period when they were staying with a spouse resident in the UK. However, these women still have no recourse to public funds, so many cannot make use of the "domestic violence rule" because they can't access a place of safety from which to make their application.

Earlier this year the government provided a small amount of funding (£40,000) for a "Last Resort Fund" to pay for safe refuge spaces for women with no recourse for two months. It is administered by Women's Aid, who have also raised a further £40,000 to add to the fund. Southall Black Sisters calculates that this £80,000 will support just 46 women for two months each, which is a fraction of the estimated 500-600 women with no recourse who are affected by domestic violence. For more info on how to apply for the fund contact Women's Aid on 0117 944 4411.

This year the Domestic Violence Bill is being discussed, and Southall Black Sisters have proposed amendments to address the problem of women without recourse to public funds. However, it remains to be seen whether the government will use this opportunity to provide protection for these women.

For more information see http://www.southallblacksisters.org.uk or come to the training and strategy meeting on 7th June.

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