Brighton domestic abuse charity ‘cast aside’ by losing contract

Councillors shared their shock and concern when asked why domestic violence charity RISE had lost its contract to provide support for victims in Brighton and Hove.

The charity was recently told that it had not won contracts worth £5million over seven years as part of a £13million tender starting in April although it has been providing the service for about £1.4 million a year until now.

A Brighton and Hove City Council meeting was told that East Sussex County Council had led the procurement process for the Portal service for victims which RISE had helped develop.

It provided refuges and direct support for victims of domestic abuse and violence – and it co-ordinated its work with hospitals and Sussex Police.

Questions were asked about the situation as Labour councillor Daniel Yates brokered a cross-party deal to provide a degree of financial help to support “transformation” for community and voluntary sector organisations like RISE.

Anusree Biswas Sasidharan, an invited member of Brighton and Hove City Council’s Policy and Resources Committee, raised the matter.

Dr Biswas Sasidharan said that she was horrified that the “decommissioning” had taken place during the pandemic when public services were focused on the covid-19 crisis.

She told the virtual meeting last week (Thursday 11 February): “Making such a challenging decision, which feels like a fracturing and destabilising of domestic abuse services, this is a really deep concern.

“Why an organisation such as RISE that is led by women for women should be cast aside without due regard to their great social value has left me flabbergasted.”

She praised the three political groups for agreeing to create a Community and Voluntary Sector Transformation Fund to support organisations away from paid commissioned work from councils and towards other funding opportunities.

The money will be taken from senior management staffing budgets, which look like being reduced by £95,000.