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 a more permanent solution because it is a good model.

Councillor Sykes said: “It is my firm belief that the scheme should NOT be time-limited.  Many victims of domestic violence will still be denied access to family finance, and so still controlled by their abuser.”

“Victims will still need access to free rail travel after Covid-19.  This is in order to flee their abusive situation,” stated Councillor Sykes.

Notes:

These tickets can be accessed through the member services of Women’s Aid Federation of England, Welsh Women’s Aid, Scottish Women’s Aid and Imkaan, once they have received an offer of a refuge place.

More information here: https://www.womensaid.org.uk/rail-to-refuge-faqs/

Copy of letter (no reply to date):

12 May 2020

Dear Andy Burnham,

Re:  Rail to Refuge Scheme

I am writing to you in connection with the ‘Rail to Refuge’ scheme, which is an essential but little publicised service providing a lifeline to those fleeing domestic violence.

I am sure that you will be as shocked as I by the huge increase in reports of domestic violence in the home during the Coronavirus lockdown.

The victims of domestic abuse are advised to seek safety in a refuge well away from their abuser, but the cost of rail travel can be prohibitive, particularly where the victim is being denied access to money by their abuser.

Commendably, in response the Rail Delivery Group, representing Britain’s Rail Operators and Network, established, in partnership with Women’s Aid, the ‘Rail to Refuge’ scheme which offers free train tickets for women and men suffering domestic violence, and their children, to travel to a recognised refuge.

These tickets can be accessed through the member services of Women’s Aid Federation of England, Welsh Women’s Aid, Scottish Women’s Aid and Imkaan, once they have received an offer of a refuge place.

Members of these organisations book the tickets via a bespoke booking system for the people they are referring to, or receiving in their refuge accommodation.

However, it is disappointing that the current nationwide ‘Rail to Refuge’ scheme has been caveated by being time-limited to only 12 weeks, or for the length of the lockdown. 

It is my firm belief that the scheme should NOT be time-limited, either by the number of weeks or the abolition of lockdown. Many victims of domestic violence will still be denied access to family finance, and so beholden to their abuser, and they will still need access to free rail travel in order to flee their abusive situation.

I am writing to you to seek your support for this position and for us to both to lobby the Rail Delivery Group and the Secretary of State for Transport to ensure this scheme is retained as a permanent programme.

Yours sincerely – Howard Sykes