Scottish Government Announces £30m Victim Centred Approach Fund

Funding for organisations providing emotional and practical support for victims, witnesses, or survivors of crime in Scotland.

Third sector organisations, community interest companies and public bodies that provide support to victims and witnesses of crime in Scotland will soon be able to apply to the Victim Centred Approach Fund (VCAF). The fund aims to put victims, witnesses, and survivors of crime in Scotland at the heart of the justice system and streamline available support into one easy-to-access place.

A total of £30 million is being made available over a three-year period (1 April 2022 to 31 March 2025) with £10 million available each year.

Applicants may apply for core funding, project funding, or a mixture of both.

Projects should meet at least one of the following criteria:

  • Victims and witnesses will have access to practical and emotional support, regardless of whereabouts in Scotland they live, the nature or severity of the crime, whether it has been reported, or what stage of the justice journey they are at.
  • Victims and witnesses will have access to joined-up services that are inclusive and accessible to all, provide streamlined support, and reduce the need for victims to recount their experiences to several different organisations.
  • Families bereaved by crime committed in Scotland or abroad will have access to specialist practical and emotional support.
  • Victims/survivors of gender-based violence will have access to consistent and professional specialist criminal justice advocacy support.
  • Adult victims of human trafficking and/or slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour will have access to support and assistance.

Funding is not available for the provision of core support for mainstream public services. However, public bodies who deliver bespoke services for victims that are not mainstreamed within public sector budgets may still apply.

Organisations considering applying to the Fund can register their interest now.

The Fund is expected to open for applications later in October.

(This report was the subject of a GRANTfinder Newsflash.)