CFSurrey Funds Surrey Domestic Abuse Partnership’s Suicide Prevention Expansion

CFSurrey’s Mental Health Scale Up Fund Supports The Surrey Domestic Abuse Partnership to Expand Suicide Prevention Services Across Surrey

Across England and Wales more people die by domestic abuse related suicide than domestic abuse related homicide. Surrey’s Suicide Prevention Strategy highlights that a third of the 97 suicides recorded in Surrey were related to domestic abuse. The impacts of domestic abuse (DA) on young people are the main risk factors for youth suicide.  National research from SafeLives shows that the impact of domestic abuse on young people includes depression, anxiety and diagnosed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. 

The Community Foundation for Surrey (CFSurrey) is therefore delighted to announce an award through its Mental Health Scale Up Fund to the Surrey Domestic Abuse Partnership (SDAP), to support their Suicide Prevention Services for young people up to age 30. At over £0.3m, spread over the next five years, the grant will provide essential financial backing to SDAP, enabling them to sustainably scale-up existing suicide prevention services across Surrey. 

This funding will enable SADP to provide additional specialist one to one safety planning case work, and a therapeutic support package for young people aged 16 – 30 who are experiencing any form of domestic abuse. By expanding its reach and strengthening its resources, the consortium of four independent domestic abuse charities will play a crucial role in ensuring that vulnerable individuals receive timely, life-saving assistance. 

The funded programme will focus on achieving key outcomes, including: 

• Early Intervention for Young Adults: Ensuring that young adults up to the age of 30 who are at risk of, or experiencing, depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues have access to the right early help, preventative support, and resources. 

• Support for Families and Caregivers: Enhancing the emotional well-being of parents, caregivers, and whole families of young adults, equipping them with the tools and support needed to navigate mental health challenges together. 

By addressing these critical areas, the initiative aims to create a more resilient and supported Surrey, where those facing mental health struggles receive the help they need before reaching a crisis point. 

Dr Rebecca Bowden, CEO of CFSurrey said: ‘The CFSurrey’s Mental Health Scale Up Fund continues to demonstrate the power of collective giving to make a significant impact on the vital issue of young people’s mental health and wellbeing in our county. The fund panel were impressed by the strength of the partnership between these four charities, the fact that they put co-design with survivors at the core of their approach and the powerful impact measurement approach. We are delighted to award this grant and look forward to working with SDAP over the next five years’.  

Michelle Blunsom MBE, CEO of SDAP Lead partner East Surrey Domestic Abuse Service said:  “We see a growing number of young people who are living with the long term mental health impacts of domestic abuse. These young people need a specialist response that is as unique as them. This funding will help us work with young people to reduce the risk of suicide and help them find support options that make sense in their lives. We believe that everyone deserves the chance to live more comfortably, without the threat of violence, control and harm. We need to create communities where suicide is not the only escape from a domestic abuse perpetrator.”  

The Mental Health Scale-Up Fund is a collective fund managed by the Community Foundation for Surrey and supported by donations received from 4 private family foundations and from the Surrey Heartlands and Surrey County Council MHI Fund.

For more information, or learn more about future funding rounds, please contact: grants@cfsurrey.org.uk or visit our website Make an application - Community Foundation for Surrey 

To enquire about donating to this fund , please email us at giving@cfsurrey.org.uk 

If you wish to speak to one of our team: 
Contact Amy Lee, Fund Development Manager 
01483 906383, amy@cfsurrey.org.uk