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Tackling violence against women
15/04/2008
Funding of £22 million for services to tackle violence against women was announced today.
On a visit to a women's refuge in the east-end of Glasgow, Ms Robison announced that over the next three years, 41 children's services will receive a share of the £11.6 million Children's Services Women's Aid Fund (CSWAF).
Public Health Minister Shona Robison also confirmed 73 projects will benefit from the £10.5 million Violence Against Women Funding Stream (VAWFS). These funds are part of the Scottish Government's overall investment of £44.54 million to tackle all forms of violence against women.
The CSWAF was established to ensure Women's Aid Groups' children's services reached the recommended minimum level of three workers per group, delivering direct support work with children and young people experiencing domestic abuse. Women's Aid groups in 28 local authority areas will receive CSWAF funding to continue this service and develop them futher over the next three years.
The VAWFS supports projects that deliver a range of services addressing all forms of violence against women across the country.
The 73 VAWFS projects receiving funding include:
- A support service for young women survivors of childhood sexual abuse who are homeless or at risk of being homeless, run by SAY Women in Glasgow (£103, 289)
- Support service for Muslim women experiencing domestic abuse, run by Amina in Glasgow (£270,293)
- Work to develop a network of violence against women prevention professionals in Scotland, run by Zero Tolerance in Edinburgh (£279,701)
- Support for women and children experiencing domestic abuse, run by Barnardo's Scotland in Dundee (£148,165)
Ms Robison said:
"Violence against women continues to devastate the lives of too many women and children in Scotland.
"Tackling violence against women is a key area of work for the Scottish Government and this is why we have increased our financial commitment to this area to £44.54 million over the next three years.
"The Children's Services Women's Aid Fund and Violence Against Women Funding Stream will support a wide range of projects across the country that deliver services to women and young people affected by domestic abuse, and address the wider issues of violence against women.
"The range of initiatives receiving funding firmly reflects all aspects of gender based violence. Services include organisations that support women who have suffered rape or sexual assault, forced marriage, sexual exploitation, and young people affected by domestic abuse.
"This Government is committed to eradicating all forms of violence against women and will continue to work with and support our key partners on addressing this issue."
A spokeswoman for Scottish Women's Aid said:
"Scottish Women's Aid welcomes the Scottish Government's commitment to addressing violence against women.
"The continuation of the Children's Services Women's Aid Fund will help to ensure that much needed specialist domestic abuse support services are available to children and young people across Scotland."
Women's Aids groups in the following local authority areas will receive CSWAF funding: Angus, Argyll & Bute, Clackmannshire, Dumfries & Galloway, Dundee, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, Edinburgh, Eilean Siar, Falkirk, Fife, Glasgow, Highland, Inverclyde, Midlothian, Moray, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Orkney, Perth & Kinross, Renfrewshire, Borders, Shetland Islands, South Ayrshire, Stirling and West Dunbartonshire.