Empowered is the multi-agency Partnership of services in East Dunbartonshire which have an interest in preventing and eliminating all forms of Violence Against Women and Girls. The Partnership was originally known as the Multi-Agency Domestic Abuse Partnership and was established in 2006. Since 2013 the Partnership has been known as Empowered. Empowered is made up of members from a range of Council Services, Councillors, other statutory services and voluntary services operating in East Dunbartonshire.
Services which are represented on Empowered include:
- Addaction Families Plus
- Carer’s Link [opens in a new window]
- Ceartas [opens in a new window]
- Citizens Advice Bureau [opens in a new window]
- East Dunbartonshire Association for Mental Health (EDAMH)
- East Dunbartonshire Council – Children’s Services
- East Dunbartonshire Council – Criminal Justice Services
- East Dunbartonshire Council – Community Protection Services
- East Dunbartonshire Council – Homelessness Services
- East Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership
- East Dunbartonshire Women’s Aid (EDWA) [opens in a new window]
- East Dunbartonshire Youth Council
- NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde [opens in a new window]
- Police Scotland [opens in a new window]
- Rape Crisis Glasgow [opens in a new window]
- Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol & Drugs [opens in a new window]
- Scottish Prison Service [opens in a new window]
- Victim Support [opens in a new window]
Empowered partners hold a wide range of knowledge and expertise and meet on a six-weekly basis to:
- Share current practice and developments
- Consider the implications of national policies/initiatives on local services
- Highlight gaps and add value to local services through working more closely together
- Develop and carry out an Outcome focused Action Plan annually.
Empowered is guided by the Local Outcome Improvement Plan and as such, reports on activities annually to the Community Planning Partnership Board. The Partnership works to a five-year Strategy with a rolling one-year Action Plan. This plan sets out activities which are structured around the national Outcomes and Priorities set by the Scottish Government in Equally Safe. [opens in a new window]
Service Commission
In April 2015, it was unanimously decided that local services which were meeting evidence-based need within the East Dunbartonshire would be commissioned by Empowered to operate. This process completely replaced the Empowered Project Fund which local organisations/groups previously applied to for funding.
What is Violence Against Women and Girls?
Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) is a term used by the Scottish Government to define a range of actions which harm or cause suffering and loss of dignity to women and girls. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Physical, sexual and psychological violence occurring in the family, within general community or in institutions, including domestic abuse, rape, incest and child sexual abuse
- Sexual harassment and intimidation at work and in the public sphere; stalking including persistent and unwanted phone calls, messages and social media communication; commercial sexual exploitation including prostitution, pornography and trafficking
- Harmful cultural practices including dowry related violence, forced and child marriage, female genital mutilation and honour crimes
VAWG has its routes within the imbalanced nature of power and privilege between male and female genders. This is understood as using a gendered approach to VAWG .
For more information about Empowered please contact the VAWG Coordinator (Community Planning and Partnerships Team) on equality@eastdunbarton.gov.uk or by phoning 0300 123 4510.
16 Days of Action against Gender Based Violence campaign
The Council is once again supporting the United Nation’s 16 Days of Action against Gender Based Violence campaign.
The global campaign begins on 25 November, which also marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and ends on 10 December, International Human Rights Day. To find out more visit our page.