DEVON County Council has withdrawn its proposal to cut funds for domestic violence and abuse services in the county by 100% but support workers have warned the service is still at risk.

The council currently provides 90% of the funding for the outreach services across Devon except in South and West Devon where it provides 100%.

Councillors had originally agreed to cut the funding completely but have now done a U-turn following a new business plan produced by adva (Against Domestic Violence and Abuse) which co-ordinates all the services in Devon.

However, the county council has made it clear that the current level of funding will not continue.

Manager of the South and West Devon service Christine McKenna said any cut to the funding would have an impact: 'In West Devon we get no other funding. We have put in bids for money from the Lottery and the Tudor Trust among others, but these are difficult times for people trying to get funds.'

She said councillors needed to understand 'the huge risks' they were taking by reducing the financial help.

'No-one else provides these services. This is not about the already crowded safe houses but the outreach support that's going on right across the county, including the women and children in hiding from abusive partners or trying to escape abuse.

'Social services, the police and the NHS simply don't have the services or people to do this work.'

The outreach service in South and West Devon, has been operating since 2002, and currently receives £300,000 from Devon county council. This provide helplines, pattern changing educational programmes, support groups, counselling services, one-to-one support, male victim service and help for children and young people from five-years-old.

Across Devon, 2,709 women were supported by all the Devon domestic abuse services last year, 250 of whom lived in West Devon.

Christine McKenna said 193 of the women whom the South and West Devon branch helped last year were considered to be at very high risk of significant harm or death.

'Devon County Council has helped establish a highly regarded and effective service that is saving lives and protecting some of the most vulnerable people in society.

'It has actually reached a level where outreach services in Devon now get more direct referrals from victims than the police do — that's how well known and well respected Devon's outreach services are.'

In a meeting of the Joint Scrutiny Committee this week, the leader of Devon County Council, Cllr John Hart, highlighted the 'disproportionality' in the way that adva has historically been funded by its funding partners.

'Over the last three years, the county council has increased its funding to adva from £678,000 to £1.24-million, while other members of the partnership have increased their total contributions from £100,000 to £128,000.'

Cllr Hart announced, however, a renewed proposal in response to adva's business plan for the council to continue its funding, although at a reduced level.

'We will fund a reasonable service this year, but we must also talk to the other funding partners so that we are not put in this position again next year.'

The council's cabinet will be reconsidering the budget again on February 17.