Lessons on spotting abuse
An innovative project to help council workers spot signs that colleagues are suffering domestic abuse is being launched.
Renfrewshire Council and East Renfrewshire Council are among eight local authorities chosen for the pilot scheme, being run by Scottish Women’s Aid.
The charity believes that, by providing employees with a better understanding of women’s inequality, domestic abuse and sexual violence, they can help to drive change.
Staff in council departments such as housing, education and social care will all be involved in the Equally Safe in Practice (ESiP) project before it is rolled out in workplaces in the private and public sectors across Scotland.
Marsha Scott, chief executive at Scottish Women’s Aid, said:
“Equipping the workforce with knowledge and the tools necessary to recognise and respond to violence against women and girls is key to challenging everyday harm and delivering the outcomes for women, children and young people that Scotland strives for.”
The project is also being backed by the Scottish Government.
Equalities Minister Christina McKelvie said: “We are delighted to be working with Scottish Women’s Aid on this project to ensure workforces have a better understanding of gender-based violence and the norms and cultures that perpetrate it.”
Training will raise awareness and an understanding of what gender inequality, sexual violence and domestic abuse is, why it disproportionately affects women and girls and how to identify the signs that someone is a victim or a perpetrator.
Ms Scott added:“With workplaces returning to the office after lockdown, this is an opportunity to offer employees a new set of tools for delivering positive outcomes in communities.”
For more details, email info@womensaid.scot