Delivering Equally Safe

Today was a milestone for us, as Hillhead Housing Association Limited completed their final session of our Responding to Economic Abuse training. They become the first housing officers in Scotland to receive training to better understand and support women experiencing economic abuse. As their final session fell on day three of the #16Days, we asked each participant to make a personal pledge to tackle economic abuse within their community. They said: 💜 "I will be more confident in asking people I am worried about if they are experiencing financial abuse" 💜 "I will be more aware of the red flags/signs of economical abuse and keep up to date with the correct people to make referrals to" 💜 "I will support and be informative, with a friendly face" If you'd like to organise training for your team, get in touch via the details in this post. #16DaysOfAction #16DaysOfActivism #EconomicAbuse #RaiseAwareness

🚨 Calling all women and girls in Glasgow! 🚨 Linked to our recent invitation to tender on a Violence Against Women and Girls Needs Assessment for Glasgow, Social Value Labs have established a micro site and are inviting you to have your say in a short, anonymous survey. Whether or not you've accessed gender based violence support services, your input is valuable. The questions are open to people living in Glasgow and will help shape vital resources in the city. 🗣 Your voice matters – and you could win a prize! While the survey is anonymous, you can choose to add your name to be entered into a prize draw. 📅 Survey Deadline: 20th January 👉 Here are the links to take part and follow us for updates: 🕸️ https://lnkd.in/eu6xb_hQ 📸 https://lnkd.in/eQJtHd9G 🎵 https://lnkd.in/ekn_CBgd Please share this post widely to ensure we hear from as many people as possible. 

Domestic abuse isn’t confined to adult relationships—it also affects children and young people in significant and harmful ways. In the latest DES Impact Report, organisations highlighted as much as a 167% increase in young women aged 16–20 being referred for support. 📈 Abuse in young relationships can take many forms, including physical, emotional, psychological, and sexual abuse, as well as coercive control. The impact is profound, often resulting in poor mental health, low self-esteem, risky behaviours, and difficulty forming healthy relationships in the future. Through the work of funded organisations like Glasgow Women's Aid, we’ve seen how early intervention and education can make a real difference. Initiatives such as workshops on healthy relationships, consent, and recognising abusive behaviours empower young people to understand their rights and build resilience. 📑 Read the latest DES Impact report here: https://lnkd.in/eJfZSJD9 👉 Share your thoughts or experiences on how we can better support young people facing abuse in their relationships. #ImagineAScotlandWithoutVAWG

🏫 School is more than just a place for learning—it’s a source of routine, safety, and social connection. Yet, for many children and young people impacted by gender based violence, attending school can be a challenge. 🟣 Recent data shows school attendance rates in Scotland have declined to 90.2% in 2022/23, down from 93.7% in 2014/15. In our latest Delivering Equally Safe Impact report 📑, we explored innovative approaches by organisations like Dundee Women's Aid, who adapted their services to support children struggling with attendance. By working with families and schools, they implemented flexible measures, such as marking group attendance as school presence, and arranging alternative contact methods for non-attenders. These efforts don’t just address attendance; they rebuild trust, provide stability, and create opportunities for young people to thrive. 🙌 Collaboration between schools, families, and support organisations is critical to overcoming barriers to school attendance. 👉 Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/eJfZSJD9 #ImagineAScotlandWithoutVAWG

🏠 Scotland’s national housing crisis is having a devastating impact on families affected by domestic abuse, as shared in our latest Delivering Equally Safe Impact Report. The reports highlights: 🟣 Domestic abuse remains a leading cause of women’s homelessness in Scotland. 🟣 Women, children, and young people face extended stays in refuges due to a lack of permanent housing, creating overcrowded living conditions that worsen mental health and wellbeing. 🟣 Organisations like the British Red Cross report unprecedented levels of homelessness, with some women left without shelter or forced to sleep in police stations. This shortage not only increases anxiety and uncertainty for families but also places immense pressure on the services supporting them. 👩👦👦 Read more about the work underway: https://lnkd.in/eJfZSJD9 #ImagineAScotlandWithoutVAWG

The impact of the pandemic continues to affect young people’s mental health and wellbeing, as highlighted in our latest Delivering Equally Safe Impact Report: https://lnkd.in/eJfZSJD9 With long waiting lists for services like CAMHS, organisations are stepping in to provide critical support. These efforts include: 🟣 Helping young people talk about their mental health without stigma. 🟣 Creating opportunities for social and peer support to boost confidence and resilience. Key findings from Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre, Perth & Kinross revealed: 🟣 72% of cases involved young people, many of whom presented severe mental health conditions. 🟣 A significant rise in young survivors scoring high on suicide risk tools, with increased complexity in cases stretching intervention timelines. How can we ensure women, children and young people’s safety and wellbeing needs are being met? Share your thoughts below. 💬 #ImagineAScotlandWithoutVAWG

The Delivering Equally Safe (DES) Impact Report: October 2023 - March 2024, was launched yesterday by Minister for Equalities, Kaukab Stewart, during her visit to Monklands Women's Aid. The report highlights the ongoing work of DES funded projects in supporting survivors of gender-based violence across Scotland. Key findings include: 🟣 Frontline support for over 21,065 individuals, providing essential 1-1 support, counselling, group work and other services for adults, children and young people affected by gender based violence. 🟣 Preventative education and awareness activities, reaching over 40,000 people with sessions for children and young people promoting safe and respectful relationships. 🟣 Approaches to address complex challenges, such as mental health issues, housing crises, and school non-attendance among young survivors, through innovative, trauma-informed approaches. The Minister’s visit underscores the Scottish Government's commitment to tackling gender based violence and supporting survivors. We extend our gratitude to all partners and, most importantly, to the survivors. Read the report here: https://lnkd.in/eNJxA_Dc #ImagineAScotlandWithoutVAWG