Violence Against Women Partnership

The North Ayrshire Violence Against Women Partnership (VAWP) brings together partners that have a role in tackling gender-based violence and supporting those who are affected. Partnership representatives include:

• North Ayrshire Women’s Aid
• Police Scotland (including Locality Policing & the Domestic, Abuse Unit)
• North Ayrshire Council (including Housing Services, Equalities, Social Services, HR, Education, Communications, Home Security Project, Adult Support & Protection, Child Protection, Economy & Communities, Welfare Reform)
• Community Justice Ayrshire
• Justice Services including the Caledonian System
• North Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership
• Barnardos
• Break the Silence
• Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

Key objectives of the partnership are to:

• raise awareness of the VAWP, the partners involved and their work
• raise awareness of the issues around violence against women and girls
• empower our local communities to challenge abusive and violent behaviour
• provide information on the available support services available
• encourage support of White Ribbon 16 Days of Action campaign

North Ayrshire is an affiliated White Ribbon Local Authority Area. White Ribbon Scotland is a campaign to involve men in tackling violence against women.

ASSIST is a specialist domestic abuse advocacy and support service. It focuses on reducing risk to, and improving the safety of, victims of domestic abuse. Its aim is to ensure that all victims of domestic abuse – women, children and men – are safe, informed and supported throughout their involvement with the criminal justice system. You can get support from ASSIST if you are the victim (female or male) of an incident of domestic abuse following which the police have been called, where your partner or ex-partner has been charged and the case goes through court.

Most ASSIST referrals are received from Police Scotland. They should ask you if you want referred to ASSIST where they attend an incident of domestic abuse, and your partner or ex-partner has been charged. ASSIST accept self-referrals or referrals from other agencies. This is where there is a Domestic Abuse case going through a Court within the ASSIST service delivery area. Areas covered include:

• North, East and South Ayrshire
• Glasgow
• East and West Dunbartonshire
• Renfrewshire
• East Renfrewshire
• Inverclyde
• Argyll and Bute
• North and South Lanarkshire

They also provide a service to male victims in parts of Edinburgh.

Coercive control can make you feel worthless, isolated or pressured into doing things you don't feel comfortable with. Having no freedom, choice or opinion over your own activities, body or finances is controlling and abusive.

If you recognise any of these behaviours please seek help.

Specialist and confidential support for men, women, and children, is available from local organisations including:

• North Ayrshire Women's Aid, phone 01294 602424
• Break the Silence (support for rape/sexual abuse) phone 01563 559558
• Social Services, phone 01294 310300 (out of hours, phone 0800 328 7758)

If you are at immediate risk, call 999.