This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Additional refuge places
27/03/2002
Women and children in every local authority area in
Scotland will have access to refuge places for victims of
domestic abuse.
The next round of the Executive's Refuge Development
Programme unveiled today, outlines three new projects at a
total cost of just under £900,000, to be developed in
Edinburgh, East Dunbartonshire and Orkney.
In Edinburgh and East Dunbartonshire the funding will
result in additional refuge spaces being made available. In
Orkney the funding will provide the first refuge spaces on
the island.
Deputy Minister for Social Justice Margaret Curran
said:
"The protection of women and children from all forms of
violence is one of the Scottish Executive's highest
priorities. Women have the right to be free of violence or
the threat of violence in all aspects of their daily
lives.
"These additional refuge spaces mean that we are able to
provide women and children throughout Scotland with a place
of safety within their local community. This will give them
a feeling of stability and allow them to receive the
support of their friends and family if they want it.
"Domestic abuse tears lives apart in rural and urban
communities across Scotland. No one has the right to abuse
somebody else. Our aim is a Scotland that is free from
abuse - it will take some time to get there, but these
additional refuge spaces will help us achieve that
aim."
A number of other bids for funding under the Refuge
Development Programme have been received by the Executive.
These will be considered for inclusion in the 2003/04
funding round when the bulk of the funding (£6 million)
will come on stream.
The details of the three projects are:
Edinburgh:
This project will be developed in conjunction with
Edinvar Housing Association Ltd and Shakti Women's Aid. An
existing property owned by Edinvar Housing Association will
be converted for use at a total cost of £273,774, of which
£189,287 will come from the Refuge Development Programme
and £84,487 from private finance. The accommodation will
comprise four self-contained flats, including one that is
accessible for a disabled person, in a supportive
environment with communal facilities. The new refuge will
replace Shakti's current one but will double the places
available to black and ethnic minority women from two to
four.
East Dunbarton:
This project will be developed in conjunction with Cairn
Housing Association Ltd and East Dunbartonshire Women's
Aid. It will provide a new, purpose-built refuge in the
Bishopriggs area where there is currently no provision. The
accommodation will comprise 5 self-contained flats, one of
which will be fully accessible for wheelchair users, with
additional communal areas. The total cost will be £482,376
of which £100,000 will come from private finance. £175,380
of this will carry forward into 2003. The new accommodation
will double the spaces available in East Dunbartonshire
from five to ten.
Orkney:
This project will be developed in conjunction with
Orkney Housing Association Ltd and Women's Aid Orkney. The
refuge will comprise four self-contained flats, one of
which being fully accessible for people with disabilities,
with communal facilities. The project will cost a total of
£463,985 of which £175,750 will come from private finance.
£204,235 will carry forward to 2003. Orkney at present has
no refuge. The completion of this project will mean that
every local authority area in Scotland will have some
refuge provision.
The Executive announced a £10 million, three year Refuge
Development Programme last year. Ten projects were approved
to begin this year in Angus, Dumfries and Galloway, East
Renfrewshire, Fife, Glasgow, Highland, North Ayrshire,
Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire and Stirling.