Written Question · S6W-26084 · Session 6
How women’s aid organisations that are not affiliated with Scottish Women’s Aid are funded, and what criteria are used for any such funding.
The question
To ask the Scottish Government how women’s aid organisations that are not affiliated with Scottish Women’s Aid are funded, and what criteria are used for any such funding.
The answer
Women’s Aid groups that are not affiliated with Scottish Women’s Aid are funded in the same ways and with the same criteria as affiliated groups.
The main source of funding between 2021 and 2025 is the Delivering Equally Safe (DES) fund, the objectives for which are:Women and children affected by violence are identified (early)Women and children’s safety needs are metWomen and children’s wider wellbeing needs are metFewer people adhere to gender stereotypesPeople have increased understanding of all forms of VAWG (causes, consequences, and appropriate responses)Power, decision-making and material resources are distributed more equally between men and women.Tolerance of VAWG is reduced and people are more likely to recognise and challenge itPerpetrators are identified earlyPerpetrators are supported to change their behaviourPerpetrators are sanctioned / held to accountViolence against women and girls is reduced / eradicatedNegative impacts on women and children who have been affected by violence are reduced / eradicated.
In July 2021 all Women’s Aid groups received funding through the 100 Days (COVID emergency) funding. The objectives of the 100 days (COVID emergency) funding were:To fund additional staff to respond to an increase in demand from victims of abuse for support services;To fund improvements to organisations’ IT and digital resource; andTo fund additional training to allow services to be augmented so that people could quickly and easily access help.
An additional grant is being provided from April 2024 to all Women’s Aid groups.
A non-affiliated Women’s Aid group (in Fife) is included in the £500,000 Fund to Leave pilot which was launched in October 2023. This will help to reduce the financial burden of leaving an abusive partner by providing up to £1,000 to help to pay for the essentials women and children need, including rent and clothing. Fife, along with Glasgow, South Lanarkshire, Edinburgh, North Lanarkshire were chosen for the pilot as the local authority areas where there are highest number of presentations to local authorities for homelessness assistance by women due to domestic abuse. The fund is being administered by Scottish Women’s Aid for the 4 affiliated groups with the grant being paid direct to Fife Women’s Aid.
The main source of funding between 2021 and 2025 is the Delivering Equally Safe (DES) fund, the objectives for which are:Women and children affected by violence are identified (early)Women and children’s safety needs are metWomen and children’s wider wellbeing needs are metFewer people adhere to gender stereotypesPeople have increased understanding of all forms of VAWG (causes, consequences, and appropriate responses)Power, decision-making and material resources are distributed more equally between men and women.Tolerance of VAWG is reduced and people are more likely to recognise and challenge itPerpetrators are identified earlyPerpetrators are supported to change their behaviourPerpetrators are sanctioned / held to accountViolence against women and girls is reduced / eradicatedNegative impacts on women and children who have been affected by violence are reduced / eradicated.
In July 2021 all Women’s Aid groups received funding through the 100 Days (COVID emergency) funding. The objectives of the 100 days (COVID emergency) funding were:To fund additional staff to respond to an increase in demand from victims of abuse for support services;To fund improvements to organisations’ IT and digital resource; andTo fund additional training to allow services to be augmented so that people could quickly and easily access help.
An additional grant is being provided from April 2024 to all Women’s Aid groups.
A non-affiliated Women’s Aid group (in Fife) is included in the £500,000 Fund to Leave pilot which was launched in October 2023. This will help to reduce the financial burden of leaving an abusive partner by providing up to £1,000 to help to pay for the essentials women and children need, including rent and clothing. Fife, along with Glasgow, South Lanarkshire, Edinburgh, North Lanarkshire were chosen for the pilot as the local authority areas where there are highest number of presentations to local authorities for homelessness assistance by women due to domestic abuse. The fund is being administered by Scottish Women’s Aid for the 4 affiliated groups with the grant being paid direct to Fife Women’s Aid.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S6W-26084 by reference.