New Impact Report: Supporting Migrant Survivors of Domestic Abuse
At the Refugee and Migrant Centre (RMC), we believe that a future free from violence against women and girls is entirely possible. However, for many migrant women, escaping an abusive relationship is made extraordinarily dangerous by the No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) immigration condition. Without access to emergency housing or social welfare, survivors face an impossible choice between destitution on the streets or remaining with an abuser.
To break down these systemic barriers, RMC co-founded the Birmingham NRPF Women’s Support Network in August 2022 alongside lead partner Birmingham & Solihull Women’s Aid, Central England Law Centre, Baobab Women’s Project, Roshni, and the British Red Cross, generously funded by the Smallwood Trust.
We are proud to share our latest Impact Report, detailing RMC’s direct work and advocacy during the project.
Key Findings & Our Impact
Over the past year, RMC provided free, IAA-accredited immigration representation and holistic wrap-around support to help women escape abuse and rebuild independent lives in safety:
192 survivors received regulated immigration advice and guidance via the network.
144 applications were submitted for the Migrant Victim of Domestic Abuse Concession (MVDAC), securing emergency temporary access to public funds and shelter.
90 applications were submitted for permanent settlement or independent leave to remain, freeing survivors from legal reliance on their abusers.
55 women received specialised wrap-around support covering housing, financial literacy, mental health, and education.
89% of survivors supported required language interpretation services, delivered via RMC’s multilingual workforce.
Driving Systemic Change
Beyond direct casework, RMC and Central England Law Centre successfully campaigned against proposed Home Office rule changes that would have forced domestic abuse survivors to meet strict income thresholds to settle their children. Thanks to joint sector lobbying, the government removed these restrictive requirements for dependents, ensuring mothers never have to choose between safety and their child’s legal status.
Looking ahead, we are delighted that the Network has secured an additional three years of funding from the Smallwood Trust starting in September 2025 to continue transforming local and national systems for migrant women.
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