Domestic Abuse

A private member’s bill proposing the establishment of a domestic abuse register similar to the sex offenders register has gained wide cross-party support from 41 MSPs. The Domestic Abuse (Prevention) (Scotland) Bill introduced by Pam Gosal, a Conservative MSP for West Scotland, will now move

Scottish Borders Council’s Domestic Abuse Advocacy Support service (DAAS) has achieved Leading Lights accreditation from SafeLives, a national charity dedicated to ending domestic abuse across the UK. The SafeLives accreditation programme is designed to recognise and reward good and safe pract

In 2021/2022, 64,807 incidents of domestic abuse were reported in Scotland, however it is estimated that only around 20% of incidents are reported, meaning the problem is much wider than the statistics would suggest. Many housing professionals will have to deal with customers who have encountered do

Housing minister Paul McLennan met Borders Housing Network (BHN) representatives to find out more about the work they are doing in relation to domestic abuse including the challenges they face supporting victims and survivors living in rural communities. Michelle Meldrum, chief executive for Berwick

Homelessness charity Cyrenians is to partner with the Women in Safe Homes fund to buy and refurbish properties to create safe homes for women who have experienced domestic abuse. The pioneering Women in Safe Homes fund was created in response to the need for safe, decent housing for women who are mo

The majority of social landlords in Scotland have not put in place adequate policies to support survivors of domestic abuse facing homelessness, a new report by Scottish Women’s Aid (SWA) and CIH Scotland has found. In 2018/19, 73 of the 173 social landlords in Scotland (42%) signed up to

Community safety minister Elena Whitham MSP has heard how Wheatley Group is supporting survivors of domestic abuse through an award-winning move-on service. Ms Whitham spent time with survivors of domestic abuse to hear how the Revive Scotland project, in partnership with Homefinder UK, gives tenant

Scotland’s lead domestic abuse charity Scottish Women’s Aid (SWA) has called on the Scottish Government to keep its promises to those experiencing domestic abuse during the cost of living crisis – including establishing a leaving fund.

The four Borders-based Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) that make up the Borders Housing Network have signed a joint pledge to take decisive action against domestic abuse. The chief executives of Berwickshire, Eildon, Scottish Borders, and Waverley met on 21 November to restate their commitme

North Lanarkshire Council's new Housing Domestic Abuse Policy, developed with the Violence Against Women (VAW) Partnership, and shaped by women with lived experience of domestic abuse, puts victims and survivors at the heart of our service. The council is introducing a specific housing policy focuss

Pam Gosal MSP has today started the process at Holyrood to create a domestic abuse register in Scotland. The Scottish Conservative MSP has brought the bill proposal forward after Scottish Government statistics showed cases of domestic abuse increasing in Scotland for five years in a row.

The UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence (CaCHE) has published a new paper that examines major policy developments related to domestic abuse and housing in Scotland and England since the Covid-19 pandemic struck. There is growing interest in how policies focused on domestic abuse and ho

A Glasgow-based service helping victims of domestic abuse is set to expand into Dumfries and Galloway after receiving a funding boost. The ASSIST service currently operates in several local authority areas in the West of Scotland and receives around 5000 referrals a year. Now it plans to open an off

A lifeline service for women experiencing domestic abuse, Revive Scotland, is marking its first anniversary today. The move-on service helps women and children who are homeless find suitable and safe housing in different areas across the country.

North Ayrshire Council has this week launched a new Domestic Abuse Policy for local residents.