Following the identification of a service gap for young women (aged 12-25) in abusive relationships of their own, Scottish Women’s Aid (SWA) and the Young Women’s Movement worked on a national research project throughout 2021 and 2022 to address this gap. The project investigated young women’s experiences and understanding of unhealthy relationships, domestic abuse and access to support.

Scottish Women’s Aid commissioned this work on behalf of the Women’s Aid network to inform accessible service development – so that Women’s Aid were better able to welcome all young women who require support. The Young Women’s Movement carried out this research alongside Young Women Rise, an advisory group consisting of 10 young women from across Scotland, some of whom have lived experiences of domestic abuse.

Scottish Women’s Aid and the Young Women’s Movement have used the findings of the research to better understand young women’s needs from support services. The research project and its findings have enabled Scottish Women’s Aid to develop resources to address this service gap, with the aim to improve the level of support available to young women.

SWA knows that children and young people face a number of barriers in accessing support when they have been harmed – particularly in social work and education settings where a child protection focus is on risk in their home environment. We make this research available for statutory and voluntary organisations to consider the findings and to create opportunities to work on whole system responses to young people experiencing harm in their own relationships.

Read the Rise Report here

Providing for young women: a service guide (based on interviews from workers in the Women’s Aid network who directly support young women.)

Free, survivor-sensitive images that you can use in content or pieces of work about domestic abuse

Rise Branding Kit – this is available for Women’s Aid groups to download, modify and use to engage with young people on social media, in schools etc. The branding kit comes with modifiable logos, social media templates, how to guides and more. If you are a Women’s Aid group looking to use this, please sign into the Members Section of this website and look under Communications Resources.

To find out more and to access any additional resources or information about this work, please contact memberservices@womensaid.scot 

Safe Spaces are confidential, private and safe rooms for survivors who are experiencing domestic abuse and sexual violence, where they can access resources for support, a phone to contact a relative or agency for support and plan their next move. The scheme is facilitated in pharmacies, which were able to remain open during lockdown, and banks. There are now over 100 Safe Spaces across Scotland, and 6,000 across the UK.

Safe Spaces can be found in Boots UK, Morrisons, Superdrug and Well pharmacies, HSBC, TSB banks and independent pharmacies across the UK. These locations provide Safe Spaces in their consultation rooms for people experiencing domestic abuse. You can use a Safe Space in whichever way works for you. They provide a safe and discreet way to reach out to friends and family, contact specialist support services and start your journey to recovery.

Step Two: Ask a member of staff at the counter to use their Safe Space

Step Three: You will be shown to the Safe Space which will be a private room

Step Four: Once inside you can use the Safe Space in whichever way works for you. They provide a safe and discreet way to reach out to friends and family, contact specialist support services and start your journey to recovery.

UK Says No More’s Safe Spaces are open and ready for you to use.

This project is funded by support received from players of the People’s Postcode Lottery and funding from the Postcode Innovation Trust.