Surrey County Council is working with partners to provide more emergency refuge accommodation for families escaping domestic abuse.

National demand for domestic abuse support increased during lockdown as people have been more isolated and less able to leave their houses for help.

In June, calls to the Your Sanctuary Domestic Abuse helpline in Surrey have more than doubled pre-lockdown levels.

Over the course of six weeks, the partnership identified an unused property in the county and developed it into extra refuge capacity. The building  provides space for seven families.

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