Mayor acts to end violence against women and girls in Haringey

£1.46million has been invested in the programme ‘tackling abusers’ in ten boroughs, reports Miriam Balanescu

City Hall and the mayor of London have announced that a two-year programme to tackle violence against women and girls will be rolled out across Haringey.

Sadiq Khan has worked with councils across London to secure £1.46million to launch the programme, with Haringey one of ten boroughs taking part.

The ‘Culturally Integrated Family Approach’ (CIFA) programme will be delivered by Rise Mutual CIC, an organisation which delivers behavioural change programmes within the criminal justice system. As part of the programme, perpetrators of abuse referred through social services will take part in a 20 session intervention course ‘helping them take responsibility for their actions and recognising the harm they are causing their partners and their families’.

Cllr Lucia das Neves, cabinet member for health, social care and wellbeing, said: “I’m delighted to see this additional funding for Haringey residents from the Mayor of London. Here in Haringey, we are committed to supporting survivors, holding perpetrators to account, and working with our local communities to ensure all our residents can live a life free from violence, abuse and hate. Haringey has a zero-tolerance approach to violence against women and girls, which is why we’re working with the Mayor of London to stamp out domestic abuse.”

The programme has been operating in Barnet, Enfield and Brent, with 400 participants so far. City Hall report that 80% of participants have shown progress.

Deputy mayor for policing and crime, Sophie Linden, said: “We’re really pleased to support Haringey Council in launching this vital service across the capital, as part of our work to tackle violence against women and girls.

“At City Hall, we’re determined to end violence against women and girls once and for all, and through the Mayor’s refreshed strategy, we are putting the onus on men to change their behaviour. This includes investing over £15m in programmes focused on addressing and changing the behaviour of perpetrators of abuse, in order to protect those at risk from violence and help build a safer London for all.”

CEO of Rise Mutual CIC, Kuljit Sandhu, said: “We are thrilled with the opportunity to expand the CIFA (Culturally Integrated Family Approach) to domestic abuse project across 10 London boroughs, building upon the valuable insights gained during the pilot scheme over the past two years.

“This funding presents a remarkable opportunity to work with more individuals who cause harm to victims and their families, employing an innovative intersectional approach to address harmful behaviour. CIFA also offers an integrated victim safety support service and will work with local victim-led services, fostering a safe and supportive environment where victims from ethnic minorities and LGBTQ+ groups can seek assistance and address the unique cultural sensitivities surrounding abuse disclosure.”

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