Scotland’s largest rape crisis centre, the Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis Centre (GCRC), has warned that its services are at risk of closure without urgent and adequate government investment. Demand for the centre’s support has surged since 2021, yet it continues to operate under a cycle of short-term, insecure funding. Last year alone, GCRC recorded over 40,000 contact points with survivors aged 13 to 79, marking a 42% increase compared to the previous year.
The rise in demand aligns with a 3% increase in reported sexual crimes across Scotland, while survivors also face greater complexity in reporting incidents, navigating the justice system, and coping with court backlogs. Claudia Macdonald-Bruce, GCRC director, emphasized that the centre’s growing caseload underscores the insufficient care and support currently available to women and girls in Scotland. She called for a clear and immediate commitment from ministers to ensure the centre is properly resourced, warning that the current funding model is unsustainable.
For 2025-26, GCRC has been allocated £549,483 from the Delivering Equally Safe Fund (DESF) and £171,000 from the Victim-Centred Approach Fund (VCAF) for advocacy support. However, the centre says an additional £500,000 is needed across both funds to maintain current services. Macdonald-Bruce stressed that without this investment, the centre may face difficult decisions that could reduce or curtail services, leaving survivors underserved.
Equalities Minister Kaukab Stewart confirmed that the Scottish government is investing £21.6 million via the DESF in 2025-26 to support organisations working to prevent violence and assist survivors, with a further £32 million provided through the VCAF from 2025-27. Funding decisions beyond March 2026 are under consideration and are expected to be confirmed as part of the Scottish Budget process. Stewart reiterated the government’s commitment to eradicating violence against women and girls and addressing the systemic issues that perpetuate it.
