About the fund
Equally Safe is Scotland’s strategy to prevent and eradicate violence against women and girls.
Developed by Scottish Government and COSLA, in association with a wide range of partners, Equally Safe sets out a vision of a strong and flourishing Scotland where all individuals are equally safe and respected, and where women and girls live free from all forms of violence and abuse – and the attitudes that help perpetuate it.
Delivering Equally Safe is the Scottish Government’s funding programme to support third sector organisations and public bodies contribute to the objectives, priorities and outcomes of the Equally Safe Strategy.
The funding is closely aligned to the commitments of Equally Safe and the refreshed National Performance Framework and encourages partnerships and collaborative working
Delivering Equally Safe will be managed by Inspiring Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government. We will work closely with all funded organisations during the term of the fund and services to provide support and advice. The fund activity started in October 2021.
First six months of Delivering Equally Safe
A report on the first six months of the Delivering Equally Safe Fund has been published. It provides evidence of the difference funded groups are making tackling gender-based violence in Scotland. Delivering Equally Safe is the Scottish Government’s funding programme to support third sector organisations and public bodies contribute to the objectives, priorities and outcomes of the Equally Safe Strategy.
The strategy underpins Scotland’s approach to preventing and eradicating violence against women and girls. Funded projects cover every local authority area in Scotland.
Inspiring Scotland manage the fund on behalf of the Scottish Government.
Trigger warning – please note there are case studies which detail sexual assault within this report.
Successful Applicants
We are delighted that there are 112Â successful organisations taking forward 121 projects who will be funded through Delivering Equally Safe, working across Scotland providing, essential services to reduce violence against women and girls and support the aims and priorities of Equally Safe
Read the news release about the launch of the programme.
Read the full list of funded organisations.Â
DES Resources Page
On this page you will find information, guidance and templates to help you manage your Delivering Equally Safe grant effectively. This page is for holders of Delivering Equally Safe Funds only.
The Resources Page is password protected. All funded projects will be sent a password by email. If you have not received this then please contact your Performance and Impact Advisor who will be happy to send you a copy.
Visit the DES Resources Page.Â
Important information
On Tuesday 5th April 2022, The Scottish Government announced that the Independent Strategic Review of Funding and Commissioning of Violence Against Women and Girls Services has started, led by the independent chair, Lesley Irving, former Head of the Scottish Government’s Equality Unit.
She will be supported and guided by an Advisory Group bringing together key figures from local government, health, academia, the third sector and a former Scottish Government Minister.
The principal role of the review is to develop a more consistent, coherent, collective, and stable funding model that will ensure high quality, accessible specialist services across Scotland for women, children and young people experiencing any form of violence against women and girls.
More information on the terms of reference for the review is available.
In addition, on 19th April 2022 the Scottish Government confirmed that the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government, Shona Robison, has approved an extension of the current Delivering Equally Safe funding period.  The fund will now conclude on the 31st March 2025. This is an 18 month extension beyond the current end date of 30 September 2023.
Please note: This will support only those who currently receive funding from DES; this extension is not an opportunity to bid for funds for new projects.
Application Process
- The Delivering Equally Safe fund held an open application process from the 7th of December 2020 and closed on the 28th of May 2021
- Pre application support and information was offered throughout the application process.  Â
- The fund received 163 applications requesting over ÂŁ61,000,000 for 2 years.Â
- The quality of applications was very high; reflecting the ambition and aspiration of the sector to provide high quality, responsive services.
There was a clear, robust assessment process followed, which included getting feedback from people with lived experience, clinical psychologists (where an application including counselling and psychological therapies) and the chairs of the Violence Against Women Partnerships across Scotland. These stages were not decision-making, however they provided context and local knowledge to help inform the final decisions made by the Scottish Government and the Minister.
Please view the application form templates , guidance notes and frequently asked questions documents that were used for the Delivering Equally Safe Application process below.
- Partnership Application Form
- Single Application Form
- Delivering Equally Safe Guidance Notes
- Frequently Asked Questions
 Read more about the assessment process.
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Delivering Equally Safe Impact Report April 2022 – September 2022
The Delivering Equally Safe (DES) team at Inspiring Scotland have released a new report on the impact of funded activity tackling gender-based violence (GBV) between April 2022-September 2022. During the six-month period 23,439 people affected by GBV received frontline support from funded organisations and 27,541 people engaged in awareness raising and education sessions. The report highlights key
Read MoreContact us
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