Welsh Women's Aid are pleased to inform you that the no recourse to public funds pilot has now been extended to March 2011.

This is very positive news for the sector due to the fact that the original pilot was originally only until February 2010. Welsh Women's Aid will continue to monitor the pilot so if your group is contacted by a woman with NRPF could you please complete and return the attached monitoring form.

The process for the pilot is attached and further information can be found on WWA website or if you need further information please don't hesitate to contact Nesta Lloyd Jones.

It is vital that we continue to monitor the pilots because WWA, and other organisations, have a number of concerns about the pilot and are still lobbying the Home Office for a long term solution.

Theresa May says Pilot Scheme for Domestic Violence Victims Will Continue

Home Secretary and Minister for Equalities, Theresa May, made a speech at the Women’s Aid Conference in Warwick last week in which she said that stopping violence against women would be a 'priority for the government’.

She added that victims of abuse, who have no access to public funds because of their immigration status, will continue to be helped by the Eaves Housing for Women Ltd, a charity that has supported more than 250 women, until March 2011. She also committed to finding a long-term solution to make sure victims are protected after that.

Eaves Housing provides support to victims in the UK on a spouse of partner visa, who have been forced to leave their home because of domestic violence.

She said: "I believe I have a unique opportunity to bring about real change to the lives and status of women in this country and my ambition is nothing less than ending violence against women and girls."

The Home Secretary also confirmed that the government would reverse the decline in rape crisis centres. It will now look to fund 15 new centres, and how to provide more stable funding for existing centres.

You can view the full speech on the Equalities website