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“Well That Would Be Nice, but We Can’t Do That in the Current Climate”: Prioritising Services Under Austerity

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Austerity Policies

Abstract

In this chapter, we consider the impacts of public sector funding cuts within the conjoined narratives of austerity and the ‘Big Society’ on services for those experiencing domestic violence and abuse in LGB and/or T communities. We draw on qualitative interviews undertaken in an evaluation of a regional development project building capacity to respond to LGB and/or T survivors in existing mainstream and specialist DVA services. Interviewees explain how their work—especially of LGBT organisations—is increasingly governed by prioritisation with the loss of spaces for development; and point to similar trends amongst their partners and a focus on ‘generic’ rather than specialist services. Such evidence supports the biofinancialisation thesis wherein social services are assessed economically rather than for their utility in deciding their success.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, University of Durham, Durham, UK

    Catherine Donovan

  2. Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

    Matt Durey

Authors
  1. Catherine Donovan
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  2. Matt Durey
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Correspondence to Catherine Donovan .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social Sciences, Faculty of Education and Society, Reg Vardy Centre, Sunderland, United Kingdom

    Peter Rushton

  2. Department of Sociology, University of Durham, Durham, United Kingdom

    Catherine Donovan

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Donovan, C., Durey, M. (2018). “Well That Would Be Nice, but We Can’t Do That in the Current Climate”: Prioritising Services Under Austerity. In: Rushton, P., Donovan, C. (eds) Austerity Policies . Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-79120-3_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-79120-3_9

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-79119-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-79120-3

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