Today, the Scottish Government has taken a crucial step forward in tackling male violence against women and girls, announcing a £2.4 million boost to the Delivering Equally Safe Fund.
This fund is at the heart of Scotland’s strategy to prevent gender-based violence. It provides vital support to organisations that offer life-changing services—crisis intervention, legal aid, and safe housing for survivors.
This latest funding increase brings the total investment to £21.6 million for 2025-26 (pending budget approval), helping frontline organisations continue their essential work in supporting survivors and stopping abuse.
More than 100 organisations to benefit
The funding will be shared among over 100 organisations across Scotland that work to tackle violence against women and girls. Some of the organisations receiving this funding include Monklands Women’s Aid, SAY Women, Rape Crisis Scotland, Scottish Women’s Aid, and Engender. These grassroots organisations are at the forefront of providing safe spaces, counselling, legal support, and advocacy for survivors.
Equalities Minister Kaukab Stewart made the announcement at SAY Women, a Glasgow charity that provides crucial housing and emotional support for young survivors of sexual abuse facing homelessness.
“Grassroots organisations across Scotland are at the heart of tackling violence against women and girls,” Stewart said. “This funding boost will support these organisations, help prevent abuse from occurring, and ensure that women and girls who have experienced violence can continue to access the support they deserve.”
Why this matters
In the past three years alone, frontline services funded by Delivering Equally Safe have supported more than 67,000 adults, children, and young people.
The additional £2.4 million comes at a critical time. The rising cost of living has made it even harder for survivors and the services that support them, forcing some organisations to cut back on resources. Many have had to scale back services, reduce outreach, or put community programmes on hold. This new funding will allow them to reinstate and expand support, ensuring no woman or girl is left without help.
Pam Hunter, CEO of SAY Women, expressed the significance of the funding for their organisation, “This additional funding will reinstate many of the services that were temporarily paused, allowing SAY Women to continue supporting young women affected by sexual violence and homelessness. With rising costs, inflation, and the increase in national insurance contributions, difficult decisions had to be made to protect fair wages for staff. This uplift means we can now reintroduce vital mental health and wellbeing activities that help prevent homelessness and aid survivors in their recovery.”
What is Equally Safe?
Equally Safe is Scotland’s national strategy to stop violence against women and girls. It’s backed by the Scottish Government, COSLA, and other key groups, and focuses on preventing abuse, providing early intervention, and ensuring survivors get the support they need. The strategy also looks at the bigger picture, tackling the deeper issues that lead to gender-based violence and making sure that every woman and girl—no matter their background—can access help when they need it.
What has been done so far?
Collaborations with schools and universities have been strengthened, one example is a recent initiative where more than 27,000 young people have received education and awareness sessions on tackling gender-based violence through 45 grassroots organisations across Scotland. These workshops cover key issues like consent, healthy relationships, and spotting signs of abuse.
The latest Delivering Equally Safe impact report, published by Inspiring Scotland, shows that the number of young people accessing these sessions is on the rise, demonstrating the critical role of early intervention in preventing violence.
This commitment to prevention is continued in the ongoing frontline efforts of organisations like Monklands Women’s Aid, which has been using this funding to provide direct support to survivors. Since October 2021, Monklands Women’s Aid alone has delivered frontline domestic abuse interventions to 1,571 people. The organisation has been a cornerstone of support for over 40 years, providing tailored help to women, children, and young people in Airdrie and Coatbridge.
One survivor who used Monklands Women’s Aid services said, “This place is our safe haven, me and my girls are happy and feel safe now, we don’t care if the dishes sit in the sink for a while after dinner, we aren’t walking on egg shells 24-7, we can fall asleep at night, we can watch a film that we choose, we can pick what we want to eat, the simple things are making us so happy, this is a new life for us, I will be thankful forever.”
What’s next for Scotland’s fight against gender-based violence?
Alongside funding grassroots services, the plan also includes initiatives such as training for frontline workers, tackling spiking, challenging and deterring men’s demand for prostitution, supporting the sustainable exit of those involved in prostitution, and greater legal protections for survivors.
The Scottish Government has also funded national awareness campaigns on gender-based violence, expanded support for specialist services like helplines and trauma-informed counselling, and increased investment in interventions aimed at preventing perpetrators from reoffending.
If you or someone you know needs support, you can reach out to organisations like Rape Crisis Scotland, Scottish Women’s Aid, and SAY Women for confidential help and advice.
