Inverness Women's Aid 'under threat' amid £100,000 funding gap

Highland councillors will be briefed next month about a review of domestic abuse policy amid growing concern about funding cuts facing women’s aid charities in the region.

Councillors say the sector has been left confused because of a lack of confirmation about contracts.

A council debate was restricted on Thursday after members were told a procurement exercise was active and subject to “commercial confidentiality”.

Women’s aid campaigners want assurances from the local authority’s health, social care and wellbeing committee.

Inverness Women’s Aid (IWA) fears a contract wrangle with the council has left a question mark over its future.

Inverness Women's Aid fears future at risk amid contract confusion — Inverness Women’s Aid fears future at risk amid contract confusion STV News

It feels it has been asked to sign a contract that could compromise the anonymity of its staff and has urged the local authority to agree to a compromise to protect the service.

The charity has supported victims of domestic violence for 46 years.

Refuge funding of just over £81,000 has been secured, but it still faces a gap of around £110,000 for other support services because it cannot sign a contract that it believes would risk putting its staff at risk.

IWA chairwoman Eilidh Ross said: “I would urge committee chairman David Fraser to engage closely with us and also other charities operating in our sector to ensure that the council’s policy for domestic abuse is properly formulated.”

Councillor David Fraser responded, saying dialogue was continuing.

“We will be engaging with all parties on how we develop these services. I encourage everyone to work together and see how we resolve this situation.”

Inverness Women's Aid runs a refuge — Inverness Women’s Aid runs a refuge STV News

IWA has also sought advice on future “multi-agency risk assessment conference” (MARAC) funding, which helps people at the highest risk of serious harm.

The contract for providing domestic abuse support across the Highlands is held by the four local women’s aid organisations – in Inverness, Ross-shire, Lochaber and Caithness & Sutherland. However, last month, the council stated that it will expire next March.

The council is in the process of establishing a “Highland-wide domestic abuse service for all victim survivors, irrespective of location, sex or gender identity”.

IWA says it needs clarification by the end of the year to allow it to plan ahead.