Victim surcharge fund raises more than £3.4m since inception

The funding will support MAV to offer practical assistance and essential items to people arriving at hospital after experiencing violence or exploitation. It will also enhance the charity’s Navigator programmes, which support people to make positive changes and connect them with community organisations.

This is the sixth round of payments from the Victim Surcharge Fund, which was established in November 2019 to provide practical help directly to victims of crime. This takes the total awarded to date from the fund to £3,486,972.

Victims minister Siobhian Brown announced the latest funding allocation as she visited MAV’s Glasgow headquarters to learn more about its work.

Ms Brown said: “It is only right that the people who commit crimes contribute towards helping victims and their families recover from trauma.

“I am pleased that since the first awards were made in January 2021, the fund has helped more than 7,000 people affected by crime, distributing almost £3.5 million in support to organisations that support victims of crime.

“The Victim Surcharge Fund allows organisations such as Medics Against Violence to respond quickly and compassionately by providing practical, immediate help to victims of crime when they need it most.”

David Duncan, chief executive officer at Medics Against Violence, added: “Support from the Scottish government’s Victim Surcharge Fund will be used directly to strengthen the help we provide to victims of crime through our Navigator programmes. This investment enables us to offer immediate practical assistance to people arriving in hospital after experiencing violence or exploitation, short‑term wellbeing support in the days that follow, and specialist, age‑appropriate care for children and young people who have been harmed.”

Debbie Adams, director of development and external affairs at Victim Support Scotland, said: “We are extremely grateful to be recipients of the Scottish government’s Victim Surcharge Fund. The VSF ensures that the fines received by offenders go directly towards helping people impacted by crime.

“In Victim Support Scotland’s case, the VSF goes towards our Emergency Assistance Fund (EAF), which provides a lifeline for people who are in urgent need of financial help as a result of a crime. It can provide life-essential things like emergency household goods, groceries, travel to a place of safety, costs to repair damaged items, and security equipment. 

“In 2024-25, the EAF distributed £538,974 worth of funds to people in need. One EAF recipient said that the items they received enabled them to “safeguard our household”, highlighting how it can help people take back control after experiencing crime. This funding will enable us to provide ongoing direct, immediate assistance for those in urgent need.”