SEXUAL abuse victims in Dumfries and Galloway were given vital support through a small grants scheme during the cost of living crisis.
A total of 129 grants, averaging between £100 to £150, were handed out to women to help them in the aftermath of experiencing sexual violence or abuse.
The cash was then used to pay for food, energy bills, or mobile phone costs at a time of upheaval in their lives.
Dumfries and Galloway Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (DGRC and SASC) provides emotional and practical support to anyone over the age of 12 who has experienced any form of sexual violence, abuse, or exploitation at any time in their life.
The support organisation was selected to receive funding through Dumfries and Galloway Council’s anti-poverty strategy, which then allowed for its service users to receive financial assistance during the ongoing cost of living crisis.
The grants scheme has been hailed a success and there has been plenty of positive feedback from those who directly benefitted from the cash payments.
In a report for councillors, rape crisis and sexual abuse support leaders explained how the scheme worked and the impact it has had.
They stated: “We developed a protocol for administering the grant which included a simple non-means tested application process.
“Application forms asked survivors to identify a priority area of need and to outline how they would spend the money.
“In total 129 small grants with average amounts of £100-£150 per person were awarded via BACS transfer where appropriate and vouchers were purchased in lieu of cash awards where there were safety or confidentiality implications (joint accounts, or financial exploitation for example).”
Two thirds of the grants awards related to energy costs, with food poverty making up 11 percent of the overall award spend.
Others grants supported issues linked to winter clothing, travel, housing and broadband/mobile costs phone.
