GROUPS working to support women and girls who have experienced violence have been awarded £5 million of funding to help deal with a rise in demand for services due to the impact of the pandemic.
Most of the money, which was announced by Equalities Minister Christina McKelvie, will go to Scottish Women’s Aid and Rape Crisis Scotland.
She said these two organisations will share £4.5m to help with the “vital” work that they do.
A report published by Scottish Women’s Aid in September last year outlined the impact of Covid, warning that women and children experiencing domestic abuse were at “increased risk of harm”.
It highlighted issues around increased demand, with one provider of refuge services saying: “We could have accommodated twice the number of women we currently have if we had more spaces. We have had several requests for accommodation during lockdown and admitted one woman with children but have had to turn others away.”
The remaining £500,000 will be split between 12 specialist groups offering support services.
McKelvie said that “violence against women and girls is one of the most devastating and fundamental violations of human rights and is totally unacceptable”.
She said: “We recognise the vital work that local women’s aid and rape crisis centres do day in, day out to support women and girls, including throughout the pandemic, and I know demand for these services has increased. This in itself is appalling, and I am determined to support rape crisis centres and domestic abuse services, which provide a lifeline for many women and girls.”
She added: “As the need for these services has grown in this most difficult of times, this funding will help survivors, and those at risk, to access specialist support when they need it most.
“We will continue to encourage survivors to report their experience and seek support they need.”
Dr Marsha Scott, chief executive of Scottish Women’s Aid, said it has experienced a “huge increase in demand for support from survivors of domestic abuse”, adding that the “impact from this is already being felt as our waiting lists are growing”.
“This funding from the Scottish Government will help us manage this higher demand and reduce these waiting lists, allowing more accessible support for survivors,” she said.
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