Organisations supporting victims and survivors of crime in
Scotland will receive a £500,000 boost from a fund that takes
money from offenders.
Seven organisations – including Victim Support Scotland and
Survivors of Human Trafficking in Scotland – will share grant
funding to provide practical help directly to victims.
This includes paying for emergency housing costs, meeting food,
utility and clothing expenses, and helping with costs to repair
or replace damaged property or goods and for mental health
services such as counselling.
It is the third tranche of payments from the Victim Surcharge
Fund – which comes from the additional penalties imposed on
offenders who receive a court fine – since its introduction in
2019.
To date, the Fund has helped more than 1,200 people affected by
crime, with around £917,000 awarded – a clear sign of how
the Scottish Government continues to prioritise victims.
Justice Secretary said: “It is absolutely right
that criminals should pay towards helping victims of crime as
they recover from their experience.
“Over the past five years we have invested £93 million through
our justice budget to put victims' rights and needs at the centre
of the criminal justice system, demonstrating our commitment to
putting victims first.
“This latest funding we are awarding from the Victim Surcharge
Fund will help people impacted by crime to access support when
they need it most while enabling organisations such as Victim
Support Scotland and Survivors of Human Trafficking in Scotland
to provide even more help to victims and their families.”
Kate Wallace, CEO of Victim Support Scotland (VSS) said:
“Confirmation of this funding means that VSS can continue this
vital and life-changing support to people affected by crime and
who have no other means of financial support.”
“The cost-of-living crisis has meant that more people affected by
crime are struggling to make ends meet. Funding from the Victim
Surcharge Fund allows VSS to provide essential items such as food
vouchers, property repairs, alarms and funeral costs, thereby
meeting the needs of vulnerable victims immediately following a
crime.
“Since April 2020, VSS Emergency Assistance Fund has provided
£903,000 worth of goods to 3,143 people and their families,
funded in part through the Victim Surcharge Fund. We accept
applications directly from people affected by crime and have
received referrals from over 200 support organisations.”
Background
The following organisations are set to benefit from the Victim
Surcharge Fund in 2023
- Victim Support Scotland (VSS) – £440,000
- Edinburgh Women’s Aid – £25,559
- Survivors of Human Trafficking in Scotland (SOHTIS) - £7,700
- Central Advocacy Partners – £5,000
- Women's Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre Dundee &
Angus – £10,000
- Dumbarton District Women’s Aid – £10,000
- Manda Centre – £5,000
