What its response is to the Rape Crisis Scotland campaign, Survivors Can’t Wait, which calls for emergency waiting list funding to be exten…

Rape Crisis Scotland and other frontline services are crucial, that is why we are investing record levels of funding to support them. This includes over £5 million for the Rape Crisis network through our annual £19 million Delivering Equally Safe fund. Rape Crisis Scotland and its centres will continue to receive Delivering Equally Safe funding until March 2025, along with other DES funded projects.
I am aware and acknowledge the concerns about waiting list funding ending in March 2024. Rape Crisis Scotland was awarded a one-off grant of £2,250,000 from COVID Emergency funding from October 2021 until September 2023 to them to respond to cutting waiting lists following the pandemic. A further £580,000 was provided in June 2023 to extend the funding to March 2024. In addition Rape Crisis Scotland was issued with a grant of £65,000 in June 2023 to enable RCS to consult on sustainability options including funding diversification and service models.
Ministers are currently considering budgets for next year during a particularly challenging financial time. The Scottish Government aims to ensure the funding provided works most effectively to improve outcomes for those using services. We are working with COSLA to develop a sustainable approach to funding for violence against women and girl services.