A NEW contract for domestic abuse support in the county may lead to the closing of the Salisbury Women’s Refuge.

The women's refuge in Salisbury has provided accommodation and support for up to 12 women and their children and over the years, has worked to support all those fleeing from domestic abuse.  

When the previous fixed-term contract came to a close at the end of March, a new contract was awarded to FearLess on April 1 and the Salisbury Women's Refuge lost indirect funding. Sources suggest that this may have a serious impact on the future of the Salisbury Refuge. 

Read more: FearLess - a new whole of family service for domestic abuse victims

Tenders for a new long-term contract for domestic abuse support services in the county were put out for tender in 2022. 

Wiltshire Council Cabinet Member for Public Health, Cllr Ian Blair-Pilling, and CEO of Fearless, Claire Marshall issued a joint statement and said: “As a result of a robust tender process, FearLess was awarded the contract to run Wiltshire’s new domestic abuse support services from 1 April 2023.

"In the delivery of the contract, FearLess has partnered with and sub-contracted to organisations who are best able to meet the expanded criteria and objectives of the new domestic abuse services contract, including a whole family approach to services and the provision of safe accommodation for clients for many years to come.

“The previous fixed term contract had come to its natural agreed end. All parties ended the arrangement on good terms as it was entirely planned and expected as part of the recommissioning process.”

Read more: Stuck in temporary accommodation for five months

The domestic abuse support service has been subcontracted to Green Square Accord. 

A spokesperson from Green Square Accord said: “We recently won a tender to provide sheltered accommodation for survivors of domestic abuse in Wiltshire. We are working in partnership with Fear-Less to deliver this service alongside support for those experiencing or at risk of domestic abuse in the county.

“We have reached out to our partners at Salisbury Women’s Refuge and look forward to working together as they plan for the future of their service.”