FUNDING BOOST TO TACKLE GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE

Delivering Equally Safe Fund receives £2.4 million uplift

More than 100 organisations across Scotland, including several in Renfrewshire North and West, will benefit from an additional £2.4 million in funding through the Delivering Equally Safe Fund.

This Scottish Government initiative supports third sector organisations and public bodies in delivering the objectives of Equally Safe - Scotland’s strategy to prevent and eradicate violence against women and girls.

Since 2021, frontline projects funded through Delivering Equally Safe have supported 67,004 adults, children, and young people.

With this latest uplift, total Scottish Government investment in the fund is set to reach £21.6 million for the coming year, subject to approval of the 2025-26 Budget.

Local organisations set to benefit include Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis, Inverclyde Women’s Aid, Renfrewshire Women’s Aid, Kibble Education and Care Centre, and Renfrewshire Council.

SNP MSP for Renfrewshire North and West, Natalie Don-Innes, welcomed the funding boost, saying:

“Grassroots organisations in Renfrewshire North and West - and across Scotland - play a vital role in tackling violence against women and girls. Their work is essential to building a society free from gender-based abuse.

“This additional funding will strengthen their efforts to prevent abuse and ensure survivors can access the support they need and deserve.”

Breakdown of funding for organisations serving Renfrewshire North and West:

Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis – £549,483.00

Inverclyde Rape Crisis SCIO – £219,757.00

Kibble Education and Care Centre – £63,203.00

Renfrewshire Council – £75,015.00

Renfrewshire Council, Children’s Services, Women and Children First – £180,354.00

Renfrewshire Women's Aid SCIO – £109,052.00

Total – £1,196,864

SUPPORTING SCHOOLS TO PLAY THEIR PART IN TACKLING GENDER BASED VIOLENCE

A dedicated approach to prevent and respond to gender-based violence (GBV) in schools has been published.

Developed by a working group co-chaired by the Scottish Government, Rape Crisis Scotland and Zero Tolerance, the framework encompasses testimony from young people and staff and sets out how schools can use education, with an emphasis on compassion, to challenge societal views which normalise gender-based violence.

It aims to support schools by:

• demonstrating the different ways GBV can affect young people in a school community and highlighting how schools can challenge the underlying gender inequalities which can cause it

• providing guidance to support schools’ responses to GBV experienced, or carried out by, children and young people or other members of the school community, including staff

• outlining the approach schools should take to recording GBV behaviours and signposting to further support and learning

GBV refers to behaviours ranging from name calling, intimidation and physical violence to sexual harassment and emotional abuse, which can affect anyone, but is more commonly experienced by women and girls.

The Behaviour in Scottish Schools Research report, published last year, highlighted an increase in misogynistic views and language as an emerging concern in schools which the Education Secretary committed to developing a dedicated approach to address, as part of the government’s wider response to challenges with behaviour in schools.

Commenting, MSP for Renfrewshire North and West, Natalie Don, said:

“I fully support the SNP Scottish Government’s ambition to create cultures in schools whereby all members of the school community know that gender-based violence is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Prevention and early intervention are key to the approach to address the underlying causes of gender-based violence, particularly gender inequality.

“This framework forms part of our broader action to address the issue of gender equality within education as part of the implementation of our Equally Safe Strategy and broader commitment to eradicate gender-based violence in every part of our society.

“All children and young people have a right to a learning environment where they are protected, cared for, and in which their rights and needs are respected. The vital role of schools to help create this culture can help us to end of gender-based violence and misogyny once and for all.”