Balfour calls on Scottish Government to support men’s charity

Jeremy Balfour, Scottish Conservative MSP for the Lothian region, has pressed the First Minister to meet with men’s charity, Abused Men in Scotland, to discuss their financial crisis and try to prevent them having to closing their doors next month due to a lack of funds.

According to the latest Police Scotland statistics, 20% of domestic abuse victims are men.   Abused men in Scotland is the only charity that provides a telephone helpline, one to one support and a refuge for these vulnerable men, who without this support, may turn to drugs, alcohol, self-harm or suicide.

Jeremy said : “Having met with key members of Abused Men in Scotland (AMIS) recently and hearing about the vital work they are doing in our community, it seems essential that the Scottish Government step in to support this organisation through this period of financial uncertainty and allow them to continue to provide these invaluable services.”

“Without our intervention, they are looking at redundancies next month and closing their doors for good at the end of July.  They have 700 cases ongoing and these men would have nowhere to turn without this service, so I urge the Scottish Government to take action now.”