'Lives could be lost' if rape crisis cash is cut, support groups warn

Published on Monday 9 August 2010 17:27

SUPPORT services for rape and domestic abuse victims across Scotland could be put at risk if the Scottish Government abandons dedicated funding for women and children's organisations, two leading support groups have warned.

Rape Crisis Scotland and Scottish Women's Aid yesterday launched a campaign to highlight the threat posed to support services for victims of rape, domestic abuse and other forms of violence, as well as the benefits gained from having them.

Since 2004, the government has ring-fenced 40 million to be used for such support initiatives. The Rape Crisis Specific Fund has provided 50,000 per rape crisis centre per year to guarantee a basic level of service and has also funded the creation of five new rape crisis centres.

The support available for children experiencing domestic abuse has also been improved by the government's Children's Services Fund, with more than 2,500 receiving support from more than 100 children's workers in Women's Aid groups last year.

Both bodies fear that the progress made will be lost if the ring-fencing is removed when it comes up for review in March next year, which could see responsibility for the funding handed over to cash-strapped local authorities, who may be forced to axe services.

Speaking at the launch of the Save Our Services campaign in Glasgow yesterday, Sandy Brindley, Rape Crisis Scotland's National Co-ordinator, said: "This funding has made a huge difference to us. It was introduced because these services were not being funded adequately at a local level. The real concern is that the funding will go entirely or the ring-fencing will go, and if it does and the money goes to local authorities, there's a real danger that centres will close and that the cash will not go to Rape Crisis."

She said that one local authority had already made it known that in the current economic climate, Rape Crisis services were looked upon as 'a luxury', but Ms Brindley said that this was not the case: "We would say that they are essential and that are vital services that everyone has a right to access.

She said that the funding had made a "huge difference" in rolling out provision across rural areas, while existing centres had been able to ramp up the level of service they offered.

Scottish Women's Aid director Lily Greenan, warned that lives could be lost: "Rape Crisis centres and Women's Aid groups provide specialist services that other agencies simply do not. Without them, many women would have no access to support, information or a safe place to go. Many of those would be at risk and in the worst case scenarios, lives could be lost."

As part of their campaign, the groups launched a DVD Making Recovery a Reality, which highlights the stories of three women who were victims of rape and sexual abuse and how they were helped to recovery by Rape Crisis Scotland and Scottish Women's Aid.A Scottish Government spokesman was unable to give an assurance that the funding would be protected.

He said: "The Scottish Government will continue to do all we can in the coming years to support this important work, and the organisations which carry it out."