EXTRA support will be on offer for victims of domestic abuse thanks to a government grant worth more than £200,000.

The funds are being shared by Dorset County Council and the tri-council partnership, Magna Housing Association, the Office of the Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner and Dorset Police and charity the YOU trust.

Office for National Statistics figures reveal that more than 15,000 women and 9,000 men were victims of domestic abuse in Dorset between 2013 and 2016.

The YOU Trust said their share of the funds will help provide a community specialist and help break down barriers some victims face when accessing support, such as living in a rural area.

Projects in Dorset were handed a total of £216,149 – a share of a £20m government grant supporting 76 projects across the country which tackle the issues surrounding domestic abuse.

Katie Bielec (CORR), service manager at Dorset You First Domestic Violence and Abuse Service, said: “This grant is a fantastic opportunity to be able to support those experiencing domestic abuse within the isolated community. Many who suffer do so in silence and with added barriers such as rural living, age, ethnicity, it can feel that there is nowhere to turn. Now there will be specialists within the community who will be able to support not only the individual but also the community and those working with victims.

The news of the grant was confirmed by Communities Secretary Sajid Javid. The cash will help create more than 2,200 new bed spaces and other specialist accommodation across the country, as well as supporting more than 19,000 victims with somewhere safe to live and rebuild their lives, and provide further access to education, employment and life skills training.

Mr Javid said: “Domestic abuse is a devastating crime that all too often remains hidden. That’s why we’re determined that no victim will be turned away from the help they need, at the time they need it.

“This significant investment shows our clear commitment to supporting and strengthening a resilient network of refuge services across the country, with further specialist support to help victims go on to rebuild their lives.”

Communities Minister Lord Bourne added: “Domestic abuse ruins lives with many victims forced to leave their homes for their own safety and to access the services they urgently need.

“Real change will only happen at the local level and it’s these authorities that are best placed to identify the best solutions. We’re clear that the victim must always come first and must always be able to access the specialist accommodation help and support they need.”