Women being banned from having their own bank accounts and prevented from working are getting help thanks to a breakthrough project in Glasgow.
Victims of domestic abuse are also been left with mounting debts from partners long after relationships have ended, a council meeting heard.
Financial coercive control can involve being forced to sign contracts, take out loans, and having money withheld or taken, which can affect victims’ credit scores.
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To help deal with the problems a special project unique to Glasgow – called Financially Included – has been tackling the impact of financial and economic abuse.
Since 2022, Financially Included has helped 390 victims of domestic abuse have debts written off where financial coercive control takes place.
They have also been supported to claim the benefits they are eligible for and access additional support from charities. This assistance totalled more than £1.6 million.
A training tool kit has also been developed to allow money and advice sector workers to identify and respond to the abuse.
Financially Included is part of work being carried out by the multiagency Glasgow Violence Against Women Partnership, the council’s environment and liveable neighbourhoods city policy committee heard on Tuesday.
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Ann Fehilly of Glasgow’s Violence Against Women Services said: “Financial coercive control is a form of abuse which can limit a victims ability to leave a relationship, seek safety and build a better life for them and their children.
“It can also often be an early red flag indicating abuse. Rushing the pace of a relationship and sharing economic resources can trap women longer term."
It is warned that poverty and debt are often major factors preventing victims of domestic abuse from escaping a relationship, particularly when they have children.
The Financially Included project was developed by financial support service GEMAP, Glasgow’s Violence Against Women Partnership (GVAWP) and Glasgow City Council’s Violence Against Women Services.
The project has sparked the interest of other Violence Against Women Partnerships and there’s hope it could be adopted elsewhere in Scotland.
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