Funding Changes Raise Concerns for Highlands Domestic Abuse Support Services

Charities have expressed concerns that support services for women and children experiencing domestic abuse in the Highlands may face jeopardy should proposed funding alterations be implemented. The Highland Council is currently undertaking a review of the contracts held by four women’s aid organisations: Inverness, Lochaber, Ross-shire and Skye, and Caithness and Sutherland. The council’s deliberations include a potential shift to funding a single provider to cover the entire region, alongside extending the service’s availability to men. Inverness Women’s Aid indicated that the existing groups lack the necessary resources to fulfill the requirements of the potential new arrangement, cautioning that services might cease operation. According to Chairwoman Eilidh Ross, the majority of individuals receiving support from the four charities are female victims, with most perpetrators being men. She informed BBC Scotland News: “Although we would welcome the provision of domestic abuse services for men it cannot be at the cost of existing services for women, children and young people.” She elaborated on the council’s proposals, stating they involve soliciting tenders from organizations for a single provider to serve the entire Highland Council area, while also extending domestic abuse services to men, in addition to women, children, and young people. “Those two elements are problematic in the sense that the four existing women’s aid organisations will not be in a position to tender for those contracts simply because we don’t have the reach.” Ms. Ross further indicated that the organizations might face closure if the council’s proposed plan proceeds. Highland Council, for its part, stated its objective is to provide enhanced services and affirmed that a definitive decision has not yet been reached. The council also mentioned its intention to assess the market to determine the feasibility of a lead provider model, and acknowledged the apprehensions voiced by the women’s aid groups.