Help for childhood abuse victims

People who have suffered childhood abuse are being reminded that support services are still available during the response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman urged survivors to continue seeking help from organisations which are still open and working through the pandemic.

This comes as the first round of funding has been confirmed from the Scottish Government’s £10 million Survivors of Childhood Abuse Support fund.

Ms Freeman said:

“Childhood abuse devastates lives and this fund will help charities and support organisations continue to offer high quality care to those who need it most.

“A total of 29 organisations which help survivors of childhood abuse across Scotland will receive financial support for their work in reducing isolation and inequalities and improving physical and mental health.

“As we continue to take measures to deal with the spread of COVID-19, it is vital that survivors do not feel they have to struggle on their own.”

Shumela Ahmed, a member of the advisory panel which looked at funding applications, said:

“Survivor organisations across Scotland are still operating during the COVID-19 crisis and this fund will allow for provision to be readily available throughout lockdown, so please continue to reach out if you need help.”

Background

The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport approved a new £10 million fund - Survivors of Childhood Abuse Support (SOCAS) 2020-24 - with awards totalling a maximum of £2.5 million per annum over a four-year period.

The fund replaces the Survivor Support Innovation and Development Fund which ended on 31 March 2020, and aims to address waiting lists for support, improve quality standards, and encourage partnership working amongst third sector providers and statutory services.

The application process was managed by Inspiring Scotland, which brought together a panel of people with lived experience and/or professional expertise of childhood abuse to make recommendations to the Scottish Government. The panel recommended cash help to 29 organisations across Scotland in the fund’s first year, and this was accepted by Ministers. Inspiring Scotland will continue to work with the Scottish Government in supporting the organisations in this fund to build capacity and resilience

The organisations receiving funding are: Aberdeen Cyrenians/Penumbra, We Are With You, Argyll & Bute Rape Crisis Centre, Break the Silence, Carr Gomm, First Tier, Glasgow Council on Alcohol, Hear Me / Voluntary Action Angus, Health in Mind, Kibble Education & Care Centre, Kingdom Abuse Survivor Project, Link Living, Mind Mosaic, Moira Anderson Foundation, Moving on Ayrshire, and Orkney Blide Trust, Penumbra, RASASH, Safe Space, SAY Women/The Village Storytelling Centre,
Shetland Rape Crisis, Speak Out Scotland, Stop It Now, Survivors Unite, Talk Now, The BodyMind Studio, Thriving Survivors, Wellbeing Scotland, Western Isles Rape Crisis Centre.

The Scottish Government also funds Future Pathways, an organisation which provides help and support to people who were abused or neglected as children while living in care in Scotland. This is funded separately, and not as part of the SOCAS fund. Future Pathways remains open and available to support people at this time.