Scotland’s largest rape crisis centre appeals for cash to mark 50th anniversary

Scotland’s largest rape crisis centre has launched an urgent appeal for cash – amid fears that unless extra funding is secured in the next four weeks it could be forced to make cuts to services.

Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis (GCRC) is marking its 50th anniversary by calling on people, businesses and organisations across the area and beyond to back its new For Her appeal, to support women and girls who have suffered rape and sexual violence.

The centre has already been forced to close some of its waiting lists for specialist support, revealing back in February that survivors face waiting times of up to 226 days for help.

The appeal comes as the scale of demand reaches a historic high, with Scottish Government figures showing 16,430 sexual crimes were recorded in Scotland in 2025-26 – the highest level since comparable records began 1971.

Recorded rape and attempted rape also reached their highest level since 1971, with 3,229 such offences recorded.

Meanwhile in Glasgow, a rape or attempted rape is reported to the police roughly every 18 hours.

Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis said its appeal would give people a “tangible way” to show support for survivors, while helping the centre continue to provide free, specialist support to the women and girls who need it.

It costs the centre at least £271 to support each survivor, with the fuller cost of providing specialist help said to be closer to £500 per person.

GCRC director Claudia Macdonald-Bruce said, for the past 50 years, the centre had “sat alongside women and girls at some of the darkest moments of their lives”.

But she said now they are “seeing the consequences of a system buckling under pressure”.

Ms Macdonald-Bruce said: “Women are coming to us carrying trauma, fear, shame and uncertainty, and some are then being told that they have to wait months for the specialist support they need.

“Imagine surviving rape and then being told that the help you need is not available for nine months. Imagine having finally found the courage to ask for help, only to be placed on a waiting list.

“That cannot be good enough. And it cannot be what we accept for women and girls in Scotland today.”

Adding that “sad reality” is that the help provided by the centre is “needed now more than ever before”, she continued: “We hope our 50th anniversary will bring people together to raise what they can and stand behind women and girls who need our support.

“Our For Her appeal is about standing with women and girls when they need us most. We are asking the people of Glasgow and Clyde to get behind For Her and help us keep our services free and accessible.”

Ms Macdonald-Bruce added: “We cannot change what has happened to a survivor. But we can change what happens next.

“Women and girls deserve better, and we will be here for them at every turn – but we need help to do that.”

The For Her appeal will run throughout GCRC’s 50th anniversary year, with the organisation aiming to raise vital funds by November 2027.

To support For Her or find out more about fundraising for Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis, visit glasgowclyderapecrisis.org.uk