Item 12 - Report Violence Against Women and Girls
West Dunbartonshire Council · 21 May 2026
Back to Community Planning West Dunbartonshire Management Board — 21 May 2026 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Public Protection Chief Officer Group (PPCOG) Highlight Report from Protection Committee or Strategic Partnership Meeting Date - Wednesday, 4th of March 2026 Name of Public Protection Committee or Partnership : VAWG Partnership Date of Highlight Report: 16/02/26 Period Covered: January - March 2026 Author: Ilse Sanchez Posso Owner: Graham McCreadie 1 Purpose 1.1. The purpose of this report is to provide an update on the work being undertaken by West Dunbartonshire’s Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Partnership, which includes progress on the implementation of Equally Safe at a local level. 2 Status Summary Quarter 3 2.1. West Dunbartonshire is currently piloting the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Needs Assessment Tool. This tool is designed to bring together partners from a wide range of services and policy areas to strengthen understanding of the collective responsibility in addressing VAWG. It also aims to identify opportunities to drive improvements and to maximise the safety and wellbeing of women, children and young people. The central question we are seeking to answer is: What are the key issues and needs experienced by women, children and young people who have experienced, or are currently experiencing, VAWG within our local authority area, as well as the needs of the workforces that support them? We are currently in the engagement phase of the project, supported by Dr. Anni Donaldson, Wise Women and Y-Sort it, which consists of three strands to ensure that it is an accessible process and that we gather relevant, comprehensive and accessible data. These include: Three surveys: one for individuals aged over 16, one for those under 16, and one targeted at the workforce. ITEM 12
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One‑to‑one interviews: with women who have lived experience of VAWG, as well as with specialist service practitioners and managers. Focus groups: for women and young people. Engagement activities will continue until the end of March 2026. 2.2. Clydebank Women’s Aid Closure: Following the closure of Clydebank Women’s Aid, we continue to work with Dumbarton and District Women’s Aid on options to provide support to victims/survivors located on the Clydebank area. A proposal has been submitted for 2025/2026, and the organisation is working on a proposal for 2026/2027 2.3. Pressures on VAWG Specialist Services: VAWG local specialist services are struggling to meet increasing demands, CARA service has paused referrals; ASSIST is only accepting referrals for new clients where high-risk has been identified; Rape Crisis has their “Support to Report” service at capacity, with long waiting lists, and has closed the acceptance of new referrals to their RUBY and ETST services; Dumbarton and District Women’s Aid also has waiting lists. This is creating a gap for individuals that require support, potentially increasing vulnerabilities and risks. With West Dunbartonshire’s levels of VAWG, it is paramount that Chief Officers advocate for adequate resources for services that are providing key support to vulnerable individuals. 2.4 Domestic Homicide and Suicide Reviews Guidance Consultation: The Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Domestic Behaviour Reviews (Scotland) Act 2025 creates a statutory framework for undertaking Domestic Homicide and Suicide Reviews, these reviews look to learn lessons following a domestic abuse related fatality. To support the review process, the 2025 Act makes provision for the Scottish Ministers to issue statutory guidance. The implementation of the provisions of the legislation is expected to come into effect from the 1st of April 2026. There has been a consultation on the draft guidance, which outlines the process for the reviews. The VAWG Partnership submitted a response to the consultation. Between the points included in the response, it was highlighted that the language used should be made more accessible, as it can feel cumbersome in some sections; concerns around local capacity to support the Reviews; the lack of links with local governance processes, VAWG Partnership and MARACs. 2.5. 16 Days Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign: The campaign took place between 25 November and 10 December, and the theme for the year was “All Together to Prevent and End Violence Against Women and Girls in West Dunbartonshire.” The planned activities focused on prevention and awareness‑raising, with an emphasis on collaborative working as a key component in the prevention and elimination of VAWG within the local area. A campaign was launched
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to increase awareness of Coercive Control across West Dunbartonshire and to signpost victims, survivors and individuals concerned about someone in their network to appropriate support services. Other activities included prevention sessions delivered to young people in residential homes, information sharing and awareness‑raising inputs at secondary school assemblies, a launch event followed by a workshop to invite participants to think about their own role in tackling VAWG, online communications, and the distribution of leaflets at local food banks with every parcel provided. 2.6. MARAC: In December 2025, there were 35 referrals received – all female victims over the age of 18. In January 2026, there were 33 referrals received – 2 male victims over age of 18, and 31 female victims over age of 18. West Dunbartonshire remains having highest/second highest number of MARAC referrals per 10,000 of female populations. Since implementation of the Pre-MARAC Referrals, 44 referrals have been discussed at the pre-meeting to determine primary victim and primary perpetrator. In terms of training, one DASH-RIC training session was delivered in December 2025, and three further sessions have been scheduled for 2026, with the Community Justice Coordinator and the MARAC Coordinator as trainers. 2.7. Domestic Abuse Improvement Plan: A proposal is being prepared to take to the Scottish Government to address domestic abuse in West Dunbartonshire by developing a whole system approach that tackles the root causes of domestic abuse, protects women and children, holds men accountable, and builds safer futures. The proposed investment will aim to integrate a co-ordinated “Whole System, Whole Family, Whole Person” model that aligns public and third sector with trauma- informed, gender-responsive systems that improve outcomes for women, children and the men who cause harm within families.
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3 Actions To Be Undertaken in the Next Reporting Period 3.1. VAWG Needs Assessment Tool: Once the engagement phase is completed, we will receive the reports with the findings from the research, which will then be submitted to the Scottish Government and the Improvement Service alongside the learnings from the piloting of the Tool. 3.2. Provision of VAWG Services in Clydebank: Work to continue with Dumbarton and District Women’s Aid to provide a service in the Clydebank area. 3.3. Review of the Action Plan: The VAWG Partnership will review the action plan to ensure we are progressing towards meeting our outcomes.
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4 Overall Status of Delivery Plan 4.1. The VAWG Partnership is working collaboratively towards the Action Plan which was approved in 2025. A review of the action plan will be carried out in 2026-2027 Q1 to ensure that we are progressing adequately towards our outcomes. 5 Key Issues and Risks Risk Reference Risk Description West Dunbartonshire has not had a VAWG training calendar in place since 2023, which means that provision of training in the local area is not adequate, which impacts on staff and the response given to victims/survivors and perpetrators. Without VAWG training, staff is not up to date with understanding VAWG, identifying the signs, knowing where/how to refer to specialist services or to MARAC, increasing risk to victims, reducing opportunities to safeguard, and missing opportunities to hold perpetrators accountable for their actions. Current Score High Mitigation in Place and Planned The Partnership's training subgroup developed a report with the current challenges and barriers, as well as recommendations. The recommendations were for the Partnership to: • Provide resources to have a single point of contact/central location for all business needs. • Provide administrative support for training, including support to carry out the analysis and evaluation. • Provide some resources to fund the costs attached to the delivery of training. • Pool of trainers. Currently capacity and resources are very limited, therefore having a system in place where different members of staff that are looking for professional development can be trained to deliver training can be very beneficial. For this to be effective a training protocol is needed to ensure that managers
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support their staff to undertake this work. Due to the Partnership not having resources to implement these recommendations, it has been decided to escalate this risk to the PPCOG. Assurance Decision Required by PPCOG A commitment to provide resources to support the implementation of VAWG training through the recommendations of the Training Subgroup report. Risk Reference Risk Description The difficult financial environment that the Council and the Scottish Government are operating in, has raised concerns around the impact that budget cuts can have on the local specialist services that provide West Dunbartonshire with critical support to women, children and young people that are victims/survivors of Domestic Abuse and other forms of VAWG. Current Score High Mitigation in Place and Planned The Partnership cannot address this by itself; therefore, it has been decided to escalate this risk to the PPCOG Assurance Decision Required by PPCOG A commitment to actively explore and support funding opportunities to ensure the continued provision and sustainability of services. Risk Reference Risk Description West Dunbartonshire VAWG Partnership does not have a dedicated budget which impacts on the ability to carry out certain activities to implement Equally Safe (Scotland's National Strategy to prevent and eradicate VAWG) locally. The VAWG Lead officer role is on a temporary basis which can impact on the Partnership's ability to carry out their activities and meet their outcomes in the long term. The chairing arrangements should also be reviewed to ensure that the system in place contributes to the consistency and continuity of the Partnership. Current Score High Mitigation in Place and Planned The VAWG Lead Officer contract has been extended until November 2026.
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Partnership cannot address this by itself; therefore, it has been decided to escalate this risk to the PPCOG Assurance Decision Required by PPCOG A commitment to actively explore and support funding opportunities to ensure the continued provision and sustainability of services. Risk Reference Risk Description Clydebank Women's Aid closed as of August 2025. The closure of the service will impact victims/survivors of Domestic Abuse in the Clydebank area, that will not be able to access support and/or refuge by this service. Without this early intervention and support, the abuse and violence can increase or escalate, and the lack of local options for support might make them more vulnerable to remain or return to abusive situations. The closure of the service will also have an impact on other local VAWG services, Emergency and Council Services, increasing pressure on already overstretched resources. In addition to this, the closure of specialist services impacts the communities and leads to decreased confidence in services and institutions, impacting on the ability to identify victims early and provide effective early intervention. There is a risk of losing VAWG funding after Clydebank Women's Aid service closes as there is no guarantee that the funding allocated to this service will remain within the VAWG service delivery for 25/26. Current Score Very High Mitigation in Place and Planned The Health and Social Care Partnership, with the support of Housing Services supported Clydebank Women's Aid to ensure that there were clear pathways for victims/survivors to receive support after the service closed. Currently, the HSCP, Housing and Homelessness, Dumbarton and District Women’s Aid and Scottish Women’s Aid are exploring approaches to ensure there is provision of VAWG services in the Clydebank Area.
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Assurance Risk Reference Risk Description VAWG local specialist services are struggling to meet increasing demands, this is creating gaps for individuals that require support, potentially increasing vulnerabilities and risks. With West Dunbartonshire’s levels of VAWG, it is likely that there will be an escalation of harm and violence for the victims, a potential loss of trust in services and local systems and processes, possible safeguarding failures, and additional pressures being displaced onto other services that will be required to absorb the heightened demand. Current Score Very High Mitigation in Place and Planned Services are pausing their referrals or reviewing the criteria for referrals, however, while this can alleviate some of the pressures on services’ staff, it is important to highlight that this creates gaps in service provision and increases risks for people affected by VAWG in West Dunbartonshire, that might not have access to support. CARA service has paused referrals; ASSIST is only accepting referrals for new clients where high-risk has been identified; Rape Crisis has their “Support to Report” service at capacity, with long waiting lists, and has closed the acceptance of new referrals to their RUBY and ETST services; Dumbarton and District Women’s Aid also has waiting lists. Assurance Decision Required by PPCOG Review and implement measures to reduce pressure on VAWG specialist services, enabling them to meet current demand and ensuring that victims/survivors are effectively safeguarded and have timely access to the support they need.
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6 Decisions Required By PPCOG A commitment to raise awareness of the engagement activity undertaken by the VAWG Partnership as part of the Needs Assessment Tool piloting, and to promote it across teams and all available channels to encourage participation. A commitment to review and implement measures to reduce pressure on VAWG specialist services, enabling them to meet current demand and ensuring that victims/survivors are effectively safeguarded and have timely access to the support they need. A commitment to actively explore and support funding opportunities to ensure the continued provision and sustainability of VAWG specialist services, which are currently under pressure with limited capacity to satisfy demand.