£35m for projects to aid abused women

A £34.5 MILLION fund to tackle violence against women is being distributed by the Scottish Government.

The money will be given to 138 projects across ­Scotland in the three years to 2015.

They include projects which support women and children suffering from domestic abuse and women who have been violently or sexually abused.

Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: “Tackling ­violence against women is a high priority for the Scottish Government and I have always been very clear that violence against women will not be tolerated.

“We value the work that is done by many organisations in combating such ­violence, and that is why we are investing this money in helping to improve the support that is available for victims of abuse.

“Since 2007, funding for violence against women work has doubled and the Scottish Government has demonstrated its commitment, despite budget constraints, to maintaining spending in this crucial area of work.”

The cash has already ­enabled the roll out of the Advocacy, Support, Safety Information Services ­Together ­(ASSIST) project in Strathclyde Police force area. In addition, Scottish Borders Pathway Project is receiving over £100,000 a year to overhaul the help it can offer to female victims of violence. It is hoped that agencies will identify high-risk victims and pro-actively contact them to offer ­options including risk ­assessment and safety planning as well as safe refuge or other housing options.