The Scottish Women's Rights Centre is to expand its operations with the help of additional funding from the Scottish Government.
A partnership project between Rape Crisis Scotland, the University of Strathclyde and the Legal Services Agency, with students from the University of Strathclyde Law Clinic providing extra legal support, the Centre is a free legal advice and information service available for women aged 16 or over who have been affected by gender based violence. It recently marked its first year of operation.
Currently operating a twice weekly helpline and weekly surgeries in Glasgow and Lanarkshire, an extra £665,000 over the next two years will enable the Centre to employ full time solicitors, who will be based in Glasgow, Dundee and Inverness, and a full time advocacy support worker, along with providing additional helpline hours.
All advice provided to women is free. Referrals may be made to other firms and direct legal representation is taken on in accordance with set criteria. Legal aid is applied for where clients are eligible.
Cabinet Secretary for Justice Michael Matheson described the Centre as "an excellent example of how drawing together many specialist groups can offer those who have suffered violence the widest range of advice and support needed". He added:
“Different areas of Scotland have different needs; for example, rural locations can have geographical barriers to accessing otherwise mainstream services and this additional £665,000 funding will help us reach more women across Scotland."
Marsha Scott, chief executive of Scottish Women’s Aid and member of the Centre’s Advisory Group, commented: “Scottish Women’s Rights Centre is an innovative, thinking-out-of-the-box response to the problem of women’s lack of access to competent and affordable legal services when they experience domestic and or sexual violence. Clearly this expansion out of the central belt allows us to look at the model in new settings, a very welcome development that will allow us to design services fit for women across Scotland."
