Scotland doubles funding for domestic abuse escape scheme

The Scottish Government has announced it will double the funding for the ‘Fund to Leave’ scheme, increasing investment from £2 million to £4 million for the 2026-27 period. The initiative, administered by Scottish Women’s Aid, provides immediate financial grants to help women and children escape abusive relationships by covering essential costs such as rent, transport, food, and clothing.

Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth stated that the fund will now be demand-led, removing previous caps to ensure that no woman seeking help to flee abuse is turned away due to unmet need. Since its launch in February 2026, the scheme has supported 1,519 women and 2,094 children.

In addition to the increased funding, the government pledged to address financial barriers related to Council Tax. Officials plan to consult on creating a statutory exception to joint and several liability rules, which would protect domestic abuse survivors from being held responsible for shared Council Tax debt incurred during an abusive relationship. Further details are expected in Parliament next month.