Scotland's only domestic abuse charity dedicated to male survivors on the brink of closure

A charity which helps male survivors of domestic abuse is on the brink of closure because of a lack of funding, according to bosses.

Abused Men in Scotland, or AMIS, receives no statutory funding from central or local government, forcing the charity to urgently seek donations.

Founded in 2010 and based in Edinburgh, it supports more than 300 men every year who have been subject to domestic abuse.

Around 20% of all domestic abuse victims in Scotland are male.

Tom Wood QPM, Chairman of Abused Men in Scotland and former Deputy Chief Constable of Lothian and Border Police said: “The Scottish Government needs to look at the evidence and shape policy accordingly so male victims of domestic abuse can get equal access to the support they need in Scotland.

“Women and girls, men and boys, people of no gender – all have the right to live lives free from the horror of Domestic Violence and its perpetrators.

“The inequality of funding is clear for all to see. Domestic Abuse services for women are handsomely rewarded to deliver their services, while for the remaining 20 per cent, who do not identify as female, are given no statutory funding for front line services.”

Iris Quar, Services Manager of AMIS added: “We have already had to cut back staffing to a bare minimum so we can continue to run the helpline. We have applied to other sources for funding, but this is a lengthy process and we currently face three or four months without any income.

“We know from our callers that the support they receive from AMIS is a lifeline, which is why we are urging anyone who supports the cause to do so now, through our Virgin Money Giving page.

“Every penny will make a difference and with enough funding we can reintroduce the employment of the case worker to provide one-to-one support and weekly drop in sessions for those most in need."

In response, a Scottish Government spokesperson said: "“Our funding supports a range of services around the country for male and female survivors of domestic abuse.

“We recognise that AMIS face a challenging situation and met with them earlier this year to consider how we ensure that people accessing services continue to be able to receive support.

“We are also discussing how AMIS could be part of the awareness-raising around the implementation of Scotland’s new gender-neutral domestic abuse offence and any funding that may be available through that work."