Victims of domestic violence to be offered up to £500 to flee abuser - as survivors say they can't afford to leave

Victims of domestic violence will be offered up to £500 to help them flee their abuser - under plans unveiled by the Home Office.

In a trial with Women's Aid, survivors will be given one-off payments of £250, rising to £500 if they have children, following the £300,000 announcement by the Home Secretary, Suella Braverman.

It comes after research by the organisation found that almost three quarters of women living with and having financial links with an abuser said the cost of living had either prevented them from leaving, or made it harder to leave.

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Two thirds of survivors also said that abusers are using the cost of living increase as a tool for coercive control, including to justify further restricting their access to money.

The M.E.N previously spoke to one woman, who said the only way she could afford to leave her violent partner was through the help of her boss at work, who stumped up the cash to pay for a private rented flat.

Her ex-boyfriend subjected her to six years of emotional, physical and financial abuse before she was able to leave him for good.

The mum-of-two, said: "If it wasn't for her I know I'd still be there now. After we had children I was due to go back to work but he said 'oh you're going to spend all the money on nursery fees why don't you stay at home and I'll take care of it.'

"But he never did and when I finally persuaded him to let me go back to work, all my money was spoken for. All my wages would go on the house and bills so there wasn't anything left for me."

Another woman said she had considered going back to her violent and controlling ex-partner after being left stuck in a hotel room - as there were no refuge