Rape crisis centre issues 'urgent' funding warning

Claudia Macdonald-Bruce, director of Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis Centre, said demand for its services has soared in recent years

Scotland's largest rape crisis centre has warned services are at risk of closure without "urgent and adequate" government investment.

Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis Centre (GCRC) said demand had soared since 2021, but it remained "trapped in a cycle of short-term, insecure funding".

Last year the centre recorded more than 40,000 contact points with survivors aged 13 to 79 - a 42% increase on the previous 12 months.

The Scottish government said it was committed to tackling violence against women and was considering funding decisions beyond March.

Rape Crisis previously described a15% increase in the number of rapes and attempted rapes recorded in Scotland last year as "alarming".

GCRC said rising demand was in line with a 3% increase in the overall number of reported sexual crimes in Scotland.

It added survivors also highlighted the "increased complexity" of reporting a rape or sexual crime; the challenges of navigating the justice system; and the need for additional support due to court backlogs.

GCRC director Claudia Macdonald-Bruce said: "For the fourth consecutive year, demand for our services has continued to grow, yet we remain trapped in a cycle of short-term, insecure funding.

"That reality speaks volumes about the level of care and dignity currently afforded to women and girls, not just in our area, but across Scotland.

"Survivors of rape and sexual violence deserve far better."

Ms Macdonald-Bruce called for a "clear and immediate commitment" from ministers that the centre would be properly resourced.

She added the current funding model was "simply not sustainable".

Equalities Minister Kaukab Stewart said funding decisions beyond March were being considered

For 2025-26, GCRC said it had been allocated £549,483 from the Scottish government's Delivering Equally Safe Fund (DESF).

It will also receive £171,000 from the Victim-Centred Approach Fund (VCAF), to deliver advocacy support to survivors in the justice system.

But Ms Macdonald-Bruce said to continue providing its current support and advocacy services, the centre needed an additional £500,000 next year across both funds.

She added: "Women and girls in Scotland deserve to live free from the fear or experience of sexual violence, but without urgent and adequate investment, we are being forced to consider difficult and painful decisions about the future of our services.

"We continue to receive disproportionately low funding compared to the scale of demand for our services, and that's before inflation and rising costs are considered.

"Survivors are being let down by an unjust and illogical system."

Equalities Minister Kaukab Stewart said the government was investing £21.6m, via the DESF in 2025-26, to organisations which work to prevent violence and support survivors.

A further £32m will be provided to 23 organisations through the VCAF from 2025-27.

Stewart added: "We remain steadfast in our commitment to preventing and eradicating all violence against women and girls and addressing the underlying attitudes and systems that perpetuate it.

"Ministers are considering funding decisions beyond March 2026 and we expect confirmation of funding to be made as part of the Scottish Budget process."