About us
Our Vision
​A Scotland free of male violence and abuse against women and girls.
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Our Mission
​To challenge the root causes of male VAWG whilst supporting survivors, amplifying seldom heard voices to improve practice, build capacity and develop preventive approaches.
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Our Principles
​The Women's Support Project works to end male VAWG.
The organisation works from a feminist perspective that views male violence as an abuse of power, rooted in gender inequality. Our work is informed by an understanding of links and overlaps between different forms of discrimination and oppression and how these contribute to male VAWG. ​
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Addressing male VAWG includes not only supporting survivors but also challenging and dismantling the structural inequalities that perpetuate it.
The organisation is female led and is committed to remaining female led. Where direct support is provided, the organisation ensures dedicated female only space for women and girls.
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The WSP strives to be a fair and positive employer; to ensure diversity in relation to trustee, staff and volunteer recruitment; and to actively consult and involve service users, female survivors of male violence, staff, and volunteers as appropriate.
Our approach
Understand
We use research and evidence from survivors of male violence to understand the interconnectedness of different forms of male VAWG and how they impact on women's lives. We work to Identify areas of unmet need and working to improve agency responses.
Capacity building
We work at national and local level, building capacity across the statutory and third sectors. We work to develop practitioners' understanding of less considered forms of male VAWG and work to improve responses.
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Challenge
We challenge practitioners and policy makers to consider and respond to all forms of violence against women (with a focus on those that are less considered), highlighting the fact the male VAWG is a continuum and that different forms are interlinked.
​Amplify
We work with women with experience of all forms of male VAWG (with a focus on those that are less considered) to ensure their voices are heard at national and local levels.
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Support
We aim to provide support and assistance to women and girls subjected to all forms of male VAWG.
Our Board
Michele Burman – Chair of Board
Michele Burman CBE is Professor of Criminology at the University of Glasgow. With a background in sociology, psychology and law, Michele is a feminist criminologist with long-standing research interests in responses to male violence against women and girls. Michele has published widely on responses to rape and domestic abuse, and has provided research-based advice to policy-makers and practitioners over many years.
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Sue Laughlin – Board Member
Dr Sue Laughlin worked for the NHS in Glasgow for over 30 years. During that time she led on all aspects of women's health. As part of this, she focussed on programmes of work that enabled health service practitioners to understand and then respond to the health consequences of all forms of male violence against women and girls. Since retiring she has completed a PhD examining the way the Equality Act 2010 has been implemented across the public sector in Glasgow.
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Dr Alison Scott FRCOG FFSRH – Board Member
Alison works as a Consultant Gynaecologist in Sexual Health services in NHS Lothian. She is the lead clinician for Inclusion Health within Sexual Health. More than 15 years ago, she established WISHES (Women Inclusive Sexual Health Extended Service) which is an accessible, non-judgemental and partnership service for women with multiple and severe disadvantage (ie those affected by homelessness, alcohol or substance misuse, involvement with criminal justice and/or involvement in prostitution). WISHES partners with substance misuse services and third sector organisations. In this way, care is holistic and person-led as well as being trauma-informed and the service being psychologically informed. Alison led development of the Women's Health Plan for Scotland and is passionate about gender equality and supporting survivors of violence against women.
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Isabelle Kerr – Board Member
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Esther Uwandu – Board Member