Women’s Aid and the Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance have joined forces with the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) to pioneer the Make A Stand pledge, an initiative created to encourage housing organisations to make a tangible commitment to support people experiencing domestic abuse.

To support the pledge, City Building has committed to implementing a four-pronged policy to help abuse victims.

The four elements consist of putting in place a solid support network for those who are dealing with domestic abuse. There will also be a commitment to make information readily accessible on the City Building website, along with other public places, so there is immediate access to local and national support.

In addition, there will be staffing and procedural policies to support people working for the council who may be experiencing domestic abuse.

Councillor Mandy Morgan has been appointed champion to support people experiencing domestic abuse and will promote the campaign moving forward.

The pledge is a public declaration of City Building’s commitment to support people who have experienced domestic violence. It is expected that the project will go live from September 2019.

Cllr Morgan said: “Police Scotland figures reveal that police are called to almost 60,000 incidents of domestic abuse annually – figures that account for almost 20% of all police time.

“City Building is proud to support the Make a Stand pledge and are confident that the new initiative will provide support to those who may be experiencing domestic violence.”

Katie Ghose, chief executive of Women’s Aid, said: “For thousands of women and children across the country, their home is the most dangerous place they can be.

“By signing up to the Chartered Institute of Housing’s Make a Stand pledge, City Building has sent out a powerful message to survivors of domestic abuse that they are not alone and that there is help and support available to them.”