Job and service fears amid uncertain funding of Women's Aid

Director of Inverclyde Women's Aid says if the Scottish Government pulls its essential £195,000 a year funding it would have a devastating effect on victims and staff.

Linda Harkin confirmed they had 13 members of staff who are all from Inverclyde whose jobs would be at risk.

(Image: George Munro)

She said: "We don't know how much Scottish Government funding we are going to get when our funding runs out in March 2025.

"We have 13 members of staff who are all local people and we are helping 408 women, young people, and children.

"If we don't get funding, we would have to make five of our staff redundant and if we only got half of the money we would have to decide which services we would need to lose. 

"I don't know how you decide. It would have a devastating impact on our families.

"I don't know what the future holds, we have to prepare staff for a situation where the future is uncertain."

READ MORE: Funding secured to offer support to Inverclyde abuse survivors

Ms Harkin says that the service gets Scottish Government Funding through the DES (Delivering Equally Safe) Fund as does Rape Crisis Scotland.

But she says DES funding department does not have any information over if the service will get funding.

She said: "Scottish Women's Aid is in constant discussions with the Scottish Government but we don't know if this funding is going to stop completely or get part of the funding."

The concerns are being raised at this time as the three-year-old funding package of £195,000 a year will end in March.

Ms Harkin said: "We are in limbo, we don't know what will happen until the Scottish Government budget is published on Wednesday.

"Our liaison officer with DES says funding will carry on for one more year. But nothing has been confirmed."

Ms Harkin says the service is much needed in Inverclyde. She said: "In our safe accommodation, of 11 families, six are from Inverclyde - more than half.

"It is not a big authority and to have that amount of people requiring that support is concerning and shows the service is needed."

Meanwhile, there is a constant battle to support the service by fundraising. Councillor Lynne Quinn and her friend Gillian Maxwell took part in the sponsored firewalk event on Friday night.

Councillor Quinn is a passionate campaigner for women's safety said politicians need to stand up and be counted instead of making token gestures and 'virtue signalling'.

She said: "We need action not words. It is ridiculous that Women's Aid has to focus on fundraising than on young people, women and children.

"We need action that is positive and productive, especially as funding is a huge concern."

There has been a contrasting picture about domestic abuse in Inverclyde recently. 

Police Scotland statistics, reported by the Telegraph, for the five months from April 1 to August 31 this year, revealed that domestic abuse incidents in the area have risen by 19.5 per cent compared to the same period in 2023.

However, the latest Scottish Government statistics revealed that there were 747 domestic abuse incidents recorded by police in Inverclyde during the 12 months to March 31, 2024.

That compares to a total of 806 the previous year, and continues a year-on-year fall in reported incidents in the area dating back to 935 in 2019-20.

Ms Harkin said the organisation was doing all it can to help women feel they can report incidents in safety and in conjunction with local police have set up a reporting room in their office.

The Scottish Government did not respond to a request for comment ahead of publishing.