£2.5m cash boost for domestic abuse service

A service offering support and advice to victims of domestic abuse has been expanded following a £2.5 million funding boost.

Assist (Advocacy, Support, Safety, Information and Services Together) formerly operated in the Glasgow area, and with 32 extra staff will now be rolled out across Strathclyde.

The organisation was awarded cash by the Strathclyde Police Authority and the Scottish Government.

Assist works with Strathclyde Police’s dedicated domestic abuse taskforce and both are based at the Glasgow Community and Safety Services headquarters in Eastgate on London Road.

The new members of staff will work with the force’s divisional domestic abuse teams across the Strathclyde area where 51% of Scots are resident, according to Assist.

Head of service Mhairi McGowan said: “I hope that this announcement will bring some comfort to those experiencing abuse and reassure them that specialist support is available.

“Nobody should have to live in fear of their partner or ex-partner and speaking to someone who really understands what they’re going through can make a huge difference.”

Strathclyde Police Authority has agreed to fund just over £1.8 million to Assist over a period of 21 months and the Scottish Government will provide £798,521 over a three-year period.

Chief Superintendent Bob Hamilton, of Strathclyde Police, said: “We hope that this will mean that more victims will have the courage to report the horrific crimes that they may be subjected to, as they will have the assurances of having an advocate on their side from the beginning. It will also allow the police to focus in on the individuals who commit these crimes and bring them to justice to reduce the number of victims of domestic abuse.”

The Scottish Government has committed a total of £34.5 million to tackle domestic abuse and other forms of violence against women from 2012 to 2015, according to Health Secretary Alex Neil.