Council under fire for charity underfunding

LIFELINE: Domestic abuse group’s concern over sustainability of their services

Perth and Kinross Council has come under fire for giving a lifeline domestic abuse charity less funding than neighbouring authorities.

The local authority gave Perthshire Women’s Aid £125,536 this year, compared to the £285,000 given by Dundee City Council. Both grants are dwarfed by the contribution of Fife Council, which gave almost £1.2 million to its local branch.

Perth and Kinross was the only authority of the three which did not increase funding for Women’s Aid this year.

Angus Council refused to provide figures without a Freedom of Information request, which has been submitted by The Courier.

Perthshire Women’s Aid manager Heather Williams fears the grant may be even smaller next year.

She said: “The demand for domestic abuse support services has increased a lot in recent years, but the funding we have received – particularly the core funding from the council – hasn’t increased to match it.

“The council would argue that giving us what they do allows us to apply for match funding like the Big Lottery but that is temporary and for specific projects. The core funding is a lot smaller than similar areas, particularly given the size of Perth and Kinross.

“What is also worrying is where other groups are seeing increases there is talk about cutting our budget. I think what is being suggested is a small amount, only about £3,000, but when you only get a small amount to start with any cut at all is damaging.

“We are grateful for the money we get from the council but it does mean we have concerns about the sustainability of our services.”

In the last budget, Perth and Kinross Council gave Women’s Aid £72,967 from the housing department and £52,569 from education and children’s services – the same amount as the previous year.

Dundee City Council gave the charity £285,000, an increase of around 1% on last year, while Fife Council offered £1,194,491, around £82,000 more than in the previous budget.

A Perth and Kinross Council spokeswoman pointed out that populations differ in each local authority and denied Perthshire Women’s Aid is underfunded.

According to the latest census, recorded in 2016, there are around 1,600 more people living in Perth and Kinross than in Dundee, despite the city council providing more than double the funding of neighbouring Perth.

The demand for domestic abuse support services has increased a lot in recent years, but the funding we have received .... hasn’t increased to match it. HEATHER WILLIAMS, PERTHSHIRE WOMEN’S AID