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Practical help for victims
17/06/2009
A fund designed to provide practical help to victims of crime has been set up by Victim Support Scotland.
The Victims Fund will help to meet the immediate needs of victims in the aftermath of a crime. The Scottish Government has provided a contribution of £30,000 to kick start the fund - which will be run by Victim Support Scotland's Campaign Board.
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said:
"Being a victim of crime can have long term emotional and physical consequences. We know that many victims also have limited resources and can ill-afford the financial consequences of the crime committed against them.
"What may seem like a relatively small loss of property can have a disproportionate effect on those with little money to spare. That's where this fund can step in and meet victims needs quickly and flexibly.
"For example, the fund could pay for the replacement of damaged locks for someone whose home has been broken into, emergency dental work for someone who's been assaulted or the repair of windows smashed as result of anti-social behaviour.
"I am sure this fund will make a real difference to victims who most need help, that's why I'm pleased to contribute £30,000 of Government funding to turn the fund into a reality."
Scott Brown, Chair of the Campaign Board, emphasised that the fund would provide emergency aid to victims of crime, mainly in circumstances where assistance was not available from any other source.
Mr Brown said:
"Each application will be judged on its merits but the emphasis will be on support in emergencies. We do not envisage any monies normally being paid to individuals, rather to providers of emergency services.
"There will be an established procedure for dealing with any cases which might emerge but the emphasis will be on speed. When people require assistance in an emergency we do not want to complicate the procedure for providing such support."
David McKenna, Chief Executive of Victim Support Scotland, said:
"The charity had campaigned for years for the establishment of a Victims Fund and praised the Campaign Board, only established in the autumn of 2007, for an achievement which would enhance the national charity's ability to provide immediate aid to victims of crime when no other assistance was apparent or available.
"I would also like to praise the Government for responding to the Campaign Board's plea, describing their contribution as yet more evidence of how people affected by crime were being kept at the heart of the justice system in Scotland."
The Victims Fund is being set up by the Campaign Board of Victim Support Scotland. It will provide assistance in the immediate aftermath of a crime to victims identified, in the main, by Victim Support Scotland's local services.
The fund will not normally distribute cash, instead vouchers or prepaid services from an approved supplier will be offered.
The Scottish Government has provided funding of £30,000 to kick start the Fund. The Campaign Board will raise donations to further increase the reach of the fund.