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<\/p>\nA LITTLE-known fund is offering up to \u00a3500 to help those fleeing domestic violence.<\/p>\n
TSB's "flee fund" offers existing\u00a0TSB\u00a0customers up to \u00a3500 to\u00a0escape\u00a0an abusive situation, with \u00a3356 being provided on average so far.<\/p>\n
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Domestic abuse\u00a0is a pattern of controlling and abusive behaviour, which can include physical, emotional, sexual and\u00a0financial abuse.<\/p>\n
The bank introduced the scheme in December 2022, with\u00a0TSB\u00a0branch staff also receiving specialist training to spot signs of domestic abuse and to help survivors.<\/p>\n
TSB\u00a0said that 136 people have accessed its\u00a0fund\u00a0in 10 months since launch, with 48 of them, or roughly 35%, having one or more children.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0fund is there to\u00a0assist people with the cost of essentials such as travel, clothing and toiletries and victims can ask for help in a branch and over the phone.<\/p>\n
To prevent abuse from reaching bank customers, the bank also blocks abusive and threatening terms from being sent to payees.<\/p>\n TSB\u00a0is also now extending the scheme to staff affected by domestic abuse.<\/p>\n The bank's Colleague\u00a0Flee\u00a0Fund\u00a0provides financial support to assist individuals with the cost of essentials that may be barriers to leaving an abusive relationship.<\/p>\n To access the\u00a0fund, staff can speak in confidence to their manager or HR, as well as by visiting a\u00a0TSB\u00a0branch.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Katie Osiadacz, head of responsible business at\u00a0TSB, said: "We have seen first-hand the impact our Emergency\u00a0Flee\u00a0Fund\u00a0plays in helping survivors of domestic abuse take urgent action to\u00a0escape\u00a0their abusive and dangerous situation."<\/p>\n Farah Nazeer, Women's Aid chief executive said: "Emergency\u00a0funds\u00a0are desperately needed by those seeking to leave their abusers, especially now, given the additional challenges presented by the cost-of-living crisis.<\/p>\n "Through our work with survivors, we constantly hear about the economic barriers preventing them from\u00a0fleeing\u00a0their abusers.<\/p>\n "Women and their children are often faced with insecurity \u2013 they either face homelessness or must rely on the circumstances of family and friends to be able to put them up for short periods of time."<\/p>\n The update comes months after Home Secretary Suella Braverman\u00a0announced a \u00a3300,000 pot in a pilot scheme to help women in\u00a0England\u00a0and\u00a0Wales.<\/p>\n The fun was set up\u00a0following a Sun campaign, and Spice Girl Mel B hailed it a\u00a0life-saver at the time.<\/p>\n Since May, abuse survivors have been able to apply for \u00a3250 cash or voucher payments – \u00a3500 if they have children – through the charity Women\u2019s Aid.<\/p>\n The fund can be be used to help with essentials such as food, nappies, clothes or even rent.<\/p>\n Ministers hope that the fund will be extended by the government when the pot runs dry.<\/p>\n If you're not sure whether you're actually being abused, you can call the\u00a0National Domestic Violence Helpline.<\/p>\n This is available on 0808 2000 247 in England, 0808 801 0800 in Wales, 0800 027 1234 in Scotland and 0808 802 1414 in Northern Ireland<\/span>.<\/p>\n There's also the\u00a0National LGBT and Domestic Abuse helpline\u00a0on 0800 999 5428.<\/p>\n The Men\u2019s Advice Line, for male domestic abuse survivors, can also be reached on 0808 801 0327 and is run by Respect.<\/p>\n Boris Johnson\u00a0launched a scheme back in 2021, where victims "Ask for Ani" – meaning 'Action Needed Immediately'.<\/p>\n It's is a codeword scheme that enables victims of domestic abuse to discreetly ask for immediate help in participating pharmacies and Jobcentres (Jobs and Benefits Offices in Northern Ireland).<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/british-gas-van-parked-london-731038562-1.jpg\")
<\/picture>YOU'RE KIDDING <\/span><\/p>\nBritish Gas makes ANOTHER payment method change – dubbed 'perverse'<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/central-heating-thermostat-control-dial-792400924-2.jpg\")
<\/picture>HELPING HAND <\/span><\/p>\nFull list of benefits which qualify for \u00a3150 Warm Home Discount<\/h3>\n
Most read in Money<\/h2>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/NEW-OFF-PLATFORM-TEMPLATE-2023-10-17T100733.649.jpg\")
<\/picture>BANK DOWN <\/span><\/p>\nHundreds unable to log in to Barclays banking app in huge outage<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/2023-inflation-plaguing-europeans-made-848704353.jpg\")
<\/picture>BYE BYE <\/span><\/p>\nHuge high street brand to abruptly close store TODAY as 100 locations face the chop<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Untitled-design-35.jpg\")
<\/picture>BILL HELP <\/span><\/p>\nBrits to receive \u00a3150 Warm Home Discount this week – check if you need to apply<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/crop-24425035.jpg\")
<\/picture>EASY MONEY <\/span><\/p>\nYour 2p coins could be worth \u00a31,000 each if you can spot Royal Mint blunder<\/h3>\n
What other support and advice is available?<\/h2>\n
Read More on The Sun<\/h2>\n
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