A lifeline Fife support service for victims of rape and sexual assault is still waiting for fundng news having reopened its waiting list.
Fife Rape and Sexual Assault Centre (FRASAC) had to stop taking referrals in December after being overwhelmed by the rising demand for the service.
The service faces a 2.5% funding cut and centre manager Jan Swan said more funds were needed to cover core costs such as rent, bills and staffing.
“We shut the waiting list in December for 12 weeks but that opened again on April 1. Staff and volunteers worked hard to get the waiting list opened,” she said.
“We’re still in the same position. We need Fife Council and Fife Health and Social Care Partnership to provide more funding to provide services but we have heard nothing.
The Scottish Government has boosted funding for advocacy and support workers to support those going through the criminal justice process.
But Ms Swan said victims did not report for a number of reasons.
She added: “Maybe they can’t report because there’s not enough evidence, and how can someone report their brother-in-law when their sister has three kids?”
FRASAC supports around 50 people a month, including young teenagers.
Between April and December last year, the organisation supported 23 youngsters aged from 12 to 15.
Mid Fife and Glenrothes MSP Jenny Gilruth, who has met Ms Swan to discuss funding issues, said: “Fife’s Health and Social Care Partnership are still pushing forward with 2.5% cut to their core funding.
“I have written to the director about reversing the decision.”
Julie Paterson, divisional general manager of Fife Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “We are looking at how services are being delivered by a range of partners across Fife, and how we can all work together to make best use of the available funds.
“We are working with FRASAC to support and continue the important services they provide.”
FRASAC is hopeful that those referred to the service would not have to wait as long as some people did in 2017, when one abuse victim waited more than a year for support.
And it thanked service users for their “patience and understanding” during the waiting list closure.
