00:00on claimants in Wales.
00:02Jane Dodds.
00:04Good afternoon, Cabinet Secretary.
00:07I'd like to request a statement from yourself, please,
00:10on the issue of how we protect and look after victims of domestic violence in Powis.
00:17Montgomery's Family Crisis Centre does an amazing job
00:21in terms of protecting our victims and survivors of domestic violence,
00:25and yet they've sadly had to look at the potential of cutting five jobs.
00:31And in a rural area, that's a huge impact.
00:34They deal day on day with mostly women who come forward who are courageous and brave.
00:41And I'd like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to one brave woman
00:45who we sadly lost last week, and that's Virginia Dufresne,
00:49who stood up to powerful and rich men in order to make sure
00:56that the voices of victims and survivors were heard.
00:59And it's an absolute tragedy that she took her own life
01:03after decades of pressure and stress.
01:07A woman of sublime courage, and every single woman who comes forward
01:12has that courage, and we need to protect and support them.
01:17And so I'd like to make sure that services such as
01:19the Montgomery's Family Crisis Centre are protected
01:22in order to continue that service.
01:24Diolch, Arian.
01:25Diolch, Jane Dodds, and thank you also for the whole chamber
01:29to hear and recognise the tragedy of the loss
01:33and that Virginia Dufresne, that absolute tragedy
01:36that she took her life after everything that she had suffered.
01:41And obviously this is very linked to how do we in Wales
01:47and as the Welsh Government deliver and respond to violence
01:51against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence.
01:55So thank you for putting that in the context of Powis
01:58and the Montgomery's Family Crisis Centre,
02:01which does provide an indispensable service for families in the area.
02:06Well, I was pleased that we have been able
02:08to recently offer additional revenue, I hope you're aware of that,
02:13to the Montgomery's Family Crisis Centre.
02:16This is something where we have put more funding
02:19into the other SV services this year,
02:23and whenever I have the opportunity,
02:24we also look regionally and locally to where there is specific need.
02:29We've supported the crisis centre with capital grants
02:32over the past two years,
02:34and we, of course, this is part of the specialist sector
02:37across Wales that we support.
02:40In challenging financial times,
02:42but ensuring that services are fully supported
02:45in the valuable work that they undertake.
02:49And thank you for bringing to our attention again today
02:52their valuable work in Montgomery's.
02:54Thank you for sharing that.
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