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Finding Safety: Sexual Violence Services in Scotland

February 2026 – Audit : Awaiting Service Feedback

Transitioned women face significantly elevated rates of sexual and domestic violence, alongside heightened vulnerability to institutional betrayal, including misclassification, forced disclosure, exclusion, and service rupture. Despite this, their safeguarding needs remain inconsistently recognised within service design, commissioning frameworks, and public-facing policy.

Our aim:

To help transitioned women identify safe services, and to help services and commissioners understand how institutional design can either protect or harm survivors.

Key Findings:

Of the 16 services audited:

  • 6 services (38%) are 🟢Recommended with clear, safe, and navigable access for transitioned women
  • 6 services (38%) are 🟡Conditionally Recommended, accessible with caveats or disclosure burdens
  • 1 service (6%) presents 🟠 Moderate Risk, requiring direct clarification before safe access can be determined
  • 3 services (19%) are 🔴 Not Recommended due to high safeguarding risks, including natal sex-based eligibility criteria and exclusionary practices resulting in significant service degradation

Who This Audit Is For

This work is intended for:

  • Survivors, seeking safer access to support
  • Service providers, wishing to improve safeguarding design
  • Commissioners and policymakers, responsible for equitable service provision
  • Researchers and clinicians, working in trauma, safeguarding, and service development

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