HOLYROOD should do more to fund rape crisis services, an MSP claims.

Glasgow Kelvin MSP Sandra White spoke out at the end of a week in which two charities announced they could not take on new cases due over money problems.

Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis is now working to reopen its waiting list after the Scottish Government agreed to fill a £35,000 finance gap which opened when BBC Children in Need declined to give repeat funding to a project for young people.

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As that happened, Forth Valley Rape Crisis Centre revealed it had to suspend its Falkirk waiting list as it continued cash talks with Falkirk Council.

Yesterday the local authority said: “Funding has been agreed with Forth Valley Rape Crisis Centre for the next two years and we are in discussions around finalising the details of the award.

“We have been working together on a joint working agreement and have a meeting scheduled with the chairperson later this month to finalise the contract.”

The third sector services are backed by a mix of grants, awards from Scottish and local government and donations from the public.

However, White – a former women’s aid worker – says a new model is needed to ensure the organisations can continue when charity bids fail.

Arguing for enhanced funding from a range of budget areas, the MSP – who pressed the SNP administration to aid Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis – said: “This is something we need to look at urgently.

“This is not a women’s issue, it’s a justice issue, a social issue, a mental health issue, a housing issue, an equalities issue, a children’s issue.

“It crosses so many areas. It should be budget-proofed across all parliamentary committees.”

The Scottish Government already gives cash to Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis and similar organisations but groups say it is not enough.

Announcing shortfall cash for the group, Equalities Minister Christina McKelvie said: “We will continue to engage with Rape Crisis Scotland to assess this situation and to take a long term approach so that local rape crisis centres can continue to provide vital services not just in Glasgow, but across the country.”

Yesterday Wendy Brotchie of Forth Valley Rape Crisis Centre told The National her team – which also covers Stirling and Clackmannanshire – has no cash for dedicated Falkirk staff, despite high demand from the area.

Every week another three to four survivors from the vicinity seek support, on average.

The organisation works with abuse survivors aged 13 and over and Brotchie says children make up a large number of referrals and that the work is becoming “unmanageable”.

She said: “We’ve been working really hard to deal with the caseloads we have.

“It’s becoming completely unmanagable. I don’t think we are in an unusual situation,” she added.

Brotchie said any cash received from Falkirk Council will be used to aid those already on the local area waiting list – some of whom face a six month wait – not on increasing the numbers of those helped.

However, she continued: “We’ve been trying to communicate how much of our workload comes from Falkirk and how it’s not sustainable on the small amounts we receive.

READ MORE: Rape crisis centre to re-open after Scottish Government cash injection

“We have had to rely on staff increasing their workloads.

“We are working at a deficit.”

Isabelle Kerr of Glasgow and Clyde Women’s Aid said that charity was refused money from BBC Children in Need because committee members felt the female-only service does not “do enough for male survivors”.

BBC Children in Need denied this.

It stated: “This decision was in no way connected to the support of male victims, we award grants to charities regardless of gender.”

The organisation said it funds more than 300 initiatives in Scotland to a value of £18.8 million.