Peter Grant, MP for Glenrothes and Central Fife, has praised the support given by Fife Women’s Aid to vulnerable women and their families.
For over 40 years, Fife Women’s Aid has been offering refuge, support and advice for women who are currently or who have previously experienced domestic abuse. During a visit to the organisation’s Glenrothes headquarters Mr Grant met with Manager Kate McCormack to get an update on their activities.
Commenting afterwards he said: “Domestic abuse doesn’t always involve physical violence. If a woman’s partner tries to control who her friends are, insists on complete control over the household finances, or stops her from going out on her own, this is abusive behaviour and under new legislation it may well be a criminal offence. Often this coercive behaviour arises over a long period of time so that the woman may not even realise that the relationship has become abusive.
“Fife Women’s Aid provide practical and emotional support for women and their families through the most harrowing of times, and I thank their volunteers and staff for this.
“Due to the confidential nature of the work undertaken by Fife Women’s Aid, you often can’t see tangible outcomes of the work they do, but there can be no doubt that the service and help that they have given to people living in our communities is invaluable.”
Kate McCormack added: “We appreciate all support to raise awareness about the impact of domestic abuse and to let women and children know they can recover and move on with their lives. We have recently launched a new website including stories of recovery from survivors. For more information please visit us at www.fifewomensaid.org.”