THREE parties have come together to launch a new project to provide support to victims of domestic and sexual abuse in Wiltshire.

The Phoenix Project has been commissioned by Wiltshire Council and the Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) and will be provided by Splitz Support Service.

Phoenix can support adults, children and families in the community or through the provision of safe accommodation.

Fran Lewis, MBE, executive director of Splitz Support Service, said: "We consider it a privilege to be part of the response to domestic abuse in Wiltshire and we will be complementing and building on existing work to continue to respond to the needs of individuals.

"We will continue to work with others in our communities who are so passionate about helping people to make changes in their lives.

"No single organisation can deal with this huge problem alone and our intention is very much to work in partnership with other providers to achieve the safest possible outcome for everyone with these experiences."

PCC Angus Macpherson provided £220,000 for the project, around a third of the overall cost, from the Ministry of Justice’s victim commissioning fund.

"Domestic violence and abuse can have a devastating impact on the victims - damaging their lives, and that of their families, irrevocably," he said.

"I am delighted this service, provided by Splitz, will ensure the victim is not forgotten while in the criminal justice system and will also provide vital preventative engagement work with vulnerable people before situations spiral dangerously out of control

"Working together is key to providing streamlined, effective, support services and solutions at the heart of our county’s communities.

"By bringing police, local authorities, health professionals and domestic abuse support services together to share information, identify risks and co-ordinate responses, I hope many more victims will be empowered to get the help they need."

Research shows that domestic violence and abuse costs Wiltshire approximately £18.5m per year. This includes health, police, local authorities and criminal justice agencies.

Laura Mayes, Wiltshire Council cabinet member for children’s services, said: "We are delighted to continue our working relationship with Splitz Support Service as they provide first class innovative and sensitive support right in the heart of our communities helping very vulnerable people.

"We hope this collaborative project helps give victims a voice and the courage to get the support many desperately need. We also want to have a big focus on prevention and be able to identify potential worrying issues quickly before they escalate.

"Many families never recover when they have been affected directly or indirectly from domestic and sexual abuse, but our aim is that this project will give them the very best chance to have a brighter future."