We believe that a world without domestic abuse is not just a dream, it is a possibility. Never doubt it – changing attitudes changes lives.
Public statements
At SWA we have been approached for comment on the allegations of domestic abuse against Bill Walker MSP. We have a general policy of not commenting on individual cases - because we would not wish to make a statement which would contradict or undermine the position of the women in such cases.
However, we are concerned about the allegations against Bill Walker and note that they have been considered serious enough by his party to warrant his expulsion.
We encourage all of our elected representatives and candidates in the forthcoming elections to sign our campaign pledge at http://togetherwecanstopit.org
Women with No Recourse to Public Funds – Destitution Domestic Violence (DDV) Concession
From 1st April 2012 a new policy will be introduced replacing the Sojourner Project that ended on 31 March 2012. The new policy will provide women who are eligible to make an application to stay permanently in the UK under the Domestic Violence Immigration Rule (Settlement DV), with limited leave to remain in the UK.
To access limited leave to remain women will need to complete the notification form Protecting Victims of Domestic Violence (DDV).The form can be downloaded from the UK Border Agency website at www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/while-in-uk/domesticviolence/ .
Completed forms should be e-mailed to Domestic.Violence@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk .
You can get more information about the Domestic Violence Immigration Rule and about help for Domestic Violence victims from the UKBA website (www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/residency/dv-victims-settlement.pdf)
SWA Census reveals 1 in 3 women turned away from refuge
Scottish Women's Aid has conducted its third annual 24 hour snapshot of the demand for services provided by our member groups across Scotland. The results reveal the comprehensive support local Women's Aid groups provide to women, children and young people, and an alarming indication of the strain placed upon services. For the full report, click here.
You can get help
You have the right to live without fear of violence and abuse.
If you, or someone you know, is being abused by their partner, find out how your local Women’s Aid group can help.
Under 16s
Young people can be affected by domestic and dating abuse. If you're worried about what's happening to you or a parent or a friend you can use this site to find information for young people.
Funding survey
Our latest funding survey reveals a worrying position for the majority of Women’s Aid groups in Scotland, with 84 per cent operating with a reduced or standstill budget. With the Scottish Government budget due to be announced, this is a tense time for groups, struggling to maintain levels of service against a backdrop of reduced revenue. View the full survey results here.
Preventative Spending
The Scottish Government has agreed that an approach to public spending which focuses on prevention as well as tackling social issues is key to managing decreasing funds.
In this response, Scottish Women’s Aid asks for a Government commitment to funding services which work to prevent and respond to violence against women.
These programmes save costs elsewhere in the system by decreasing the need for more expensive long term healthcare and criminal justice costs. To find out more, view the full report here.
Women's Aid in Scotland National Service Standards
The Women's Aid in Scotland National Service Standards (NSS) are a collaborative development between a number of Women's Aid groups and Scottish Women's Aid (SWA).
The NSS were developed because of the lack of benchmarking information for specialist domestic abuse services. The NSS provide a comprehensive approach to ensure consistent good practice across Women's Aid groups, as well as a system to measure and evidence the specialist domestic abuse services Women's Aid deliver. A peer assessment approach is used to carry out the assessment to ensure that the groups are being assessed by workers who understand and have experience of working within a domestic abuse setting. This approach also ensures that the assessment is independent and is being carried out by an independent assessor.
We hope Local Authorities adopt the NSS as a quality assessment framework to evidence the specialist services provided by Women's Aid and the difference those services make to the lives of women, children and young people experiencing domestic abuse.
Meeting the NSS is a voluntary process for Women's Aid groups to work towards; however we hope that all groups will have been assessed and meet the NSS by the end of 2014.
For further information please contact Ash Kuloo on 0131 226 6606.
To download the NSS please visit the Publications section of our website.
SWA Annual Report 2010-2011
SWA's Annual Report for 2010-2011 is now available for download here.
National Outcome evaluation report launched: I don't want to give up anymore.
We've launched our new report looking at the outcomes for women who have used women's aid services. Download the report here (pdf)
Follow us on twitter 
@scotwomensaid or find us on facebook.
Read about the STOP campaign at http://www.togetherwecanstopit.org/.
You can get help
You have the right to live without fear of violence and abuse.
If you, or someone you know, is being abused by their partner, find out how Women’s Aid can help.
Under 16s
Young people can be affected by domestic and dating abuse. If you're worried about what's happening to you or a parent or a friend you can use this site to find
information for young people.
"The history of woman is the history of the continued and universal oppression of one sex by the other. The emancipation of woman is her restoration to equal rights and privileges with man."
Tennessee Claflin, American Suffragette. (1844-1923)