Reports of domestic abuse on the rise
A LOTTERY grant of almost £250,000 is to go towards tackling the growing number of domestic abuse cases being reported in Shetland.
Shetland Women’s Aid has been struggling to cope with the amount of women seeking help in the past six months.
The organisation is currently dealing with 64 individual cases and for the first time has had to set up a waiting list for its specialist services, which include counselling, therapy and advice on issues such as housing, finance and the law.
Since August they have been dealing with 18 high risk cases, predominantly involving women facing the risk of significant harm to the point some of their lives are in danger.
Women’s Aid also has refuge accommodation for one woman and her children, which is not enough to meet demand.
The Big Lottery Fund this week awarded £240,868 to pay the salary of an adult therapeutic support worker for the next five years to help cope with the growing workload.
The job involves helping people victims to break the cycle of abuse they are suffering, to make safer choices in their lives and in some cases to relocate from communities where they are well known to a place where they can feel safe.
Women’s Aid worker Louise Simpson said: “For some time we have been experiencing a steady increase in demand for our services.
“Waiting lists are not ideal, given the nature of the support required and existing staff are stretched to the extreme.
“This additional funding will not only increase client and staff safety, but will ultimately make our services accessible to more vulnerable clients.”
As well as paying for a new member of staff, the money will pay for a new secure entrance to the organisation’s premises in Lerwick.
Fellow worker Karen MacKelvie explained that more people were coming forward because they felt able to open up about what was happening to them, with some being referred to Women’s Aid from other agencies.
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She said cases involved people from all walks of life, including some “high profile people”.
“Shetland seems safe, we have great infrastructure, wealth, great schools and education yet (domestic violence) persists here as well,” she told BBC Radio Shetland.
She added there were cases involving same sex couples as well, who faced the extra challenge of “coming out” by seeking help.
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