Stirling MSP Evelyn Tweed has been highlighting the work of a number of organisations across Stirling and Forth Valley as part of this year’s International Women’s Day.
Throughout the week, the MSP shared the voices of organisations working on the frontline of women’s support, tackling issues that disproportionately affect women. These include Stirling and District Women’s Aid, Forth Valley Rape Crisis, Central Advocacy Partners (CAP), Venture Trust, Scots Recovery from Childhood Abuse (SRFCA), HSTAR Scotland, STEP and Doune and Dunblane Cricket Club.
The campaign, which ran across social media, shone a light on the different ways organisations address inequalities faced by women — from supporting survivors of domestic and sexual abuse, to helping women rebuild confidence after trauma, advocating for disabled and autistic women, improving mental health through nature, and creating safe spaces for women and girls in sport.
The need for this work is clear. Women in Scotland continue to face structural barriers across many areas of life, from safety to economic opportunity. Only around one in five businesses in Scotland are led by women[1], and women are less likely than men to participate in sport or meet recommended physical activity levels[2]. Women also remain disproportionately affected by violence and abuse in Scotland. Police Scotland statistics show that 83% of domestic abuse victims are women[3] Research also suggests that around one in five women will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime[4].
These figures underline the importance of specialist services, community organisations and advocacy groups that support women to rebuild their lives and access the help they need.
Across the campaign, a common message emerged from the organisations themselves: when women are supported and empowered, the impact extends far beyond the individual and begins to strengthen communities and society as a whole.
Evelyn Tweed MSP said:
“I was proud to highlight just some of the incredible local organisations that quietly but powerfully transform lives in our communities every single day. Across Stirling and Forth Valley, there are dedicated teams working to support women and tackle the inequalities that still shape too many women’s lives.
“From supporting survivors of domestic and sexual abuse, to creating opportunities through sport, nature and community, these organisations show the real difference that compassionate, locally rooted support can make.
“A resounding message from the voices we heard last week is the ripple effect that happens when work like this is done. Investing in the safety and opportunities women deserve delivers benefits far beyond the individual, it also strengthens families, workplaces and communities as a whole.”
The MSP thanked the organisations for their work and encouraged people across the area to support them where they can, whether through volunteering, fundraising or raising awareness.
She added:
“Our communities are stronger because of the people and organisations who show up every day to support others, and we have many of these across Stirling. So for this year’s International Women’s Day, I want to say a heartfelt thank you to every organisation, volunteer and staff member working to ensure women and girls across Stirling and Forth Valley are given the opportunities and support their deserve. Your work is changing lives.”
Local organisation quotes in full:
Becky Quilliam, Stirling District Women’s Aid:
“Frequently, when there is domestic abuse, that abuse continues long after separation. This does not happen in a vacuum, it is rooted in inequality. Systems that make it harder for women to access legal aid, safe housing and financial support can unintentionally perpetuate harm. When women are forced to navigate court alone or are pushed into debt just to stay safe, that is not a personal failing, it is a systemic one. ‘Give To Gain’ means investing in the structures that allow women to leave and stay left. It means improving cross-sector understanding of domestic abuse, ensuring services recognise and respond to the many barriers women encounter when leaving abuse and striving to stay safe.”
Louis Gallagher, Club Development Officer at Doune and Dunblane Cricket Club:
“Having more women and girls as visible role models across the club is a crucial goal for us. The first on our list of core values at the club is “open to all”. This means that everyone is welcome and included at the club. We are passionate about growing the game amongst everyone across our communities, so bringing about more gender equality within the organisation totally aligns with everything we’re about. From female coaches working with our Under 10s to brilliant women on our committee shaping decisions – representation matters. When girls see women leading, coaching and captaining, it changes what feels possible.”
Linda Letford, Programme Co-ordinator for FeMade at STEP:
“Women who want to start or grow a business often face challenges that aren’t about ideas or ambition. They’re about support and confidence. What women lack is having access to the right networks, confidence in their own skills and spaces where their potential is recognised. I see that potential in every woman who walks through our doors. Helping them unlock it in a way that feels safe, achievable and empowering is one of the most rewarding parts of my role. Women-led businesses often meet important social or wellbeing needs, helping community services grow and they tend to build networks that encourage collaboration rather than competition. When women succeed in their business, the impact goes far beyond the individual — it creates stronger, more connected and more innovative communities.”
Ewelina Chin, Founder of HSTAR
“When a woman understands her rights, her money, her options and her skills, something powerful happens — she becomes far less vulnerable to control or exploitation. Financial confidence is freedom. But empowerment cannot grow in instability. I would love to see trauma-informed, dignity-based support treated as essential public infrastructure, not something optional or short-term. Emotionally secure women contribute more fully, lead more confidently and nurture stronger families. This is not just social policy – it is about building a nation that is rooted in care and dignity.”
Angela Barron, CEO of Forth Valley Rape Crisis:
“One of the most powerful parts of recovery is when survivors begin to let go of shame and self-blame. That moment opens the door to confidence, healthier relationships and hope for the future. Survivors often tell us that accessing support was life-changing, sometimes even life-saving. When survivors are supported to heal, the gains ripple far beyond the individual. There are huge gains for society when people have healthy coping strategies, stronger relationships and the ability to engage in work, education and life. We are not all just cogs in a machine — we are here to live good lives, and that is what every survivor deserves.”
Angela Graham, Advocacy Worker for the Survivors Project at Central Advocacy Partners:
“The biggest difference decision-makers and communities can make is to truly listen to women who are learning disabled or autistic and believe their experiences without judgement. Too often their voices are overlooked or their needs are not recognised. Services must adapt their communication approaches and make reasonable adjustments so these women can fully engage and be understood, recognising the additional barriers they may face when seeking help. With meaningful support, these women begin to believe in themselves again and feel proud of what they can achieve and the difference they can make.
For us, it is humbling that these women trust us enough to share their experiences and allow us the privilege to support them on their journey.”
Gavin Sinclair, Managing Director of Venture Trust, said:
“We created the Next Steps programme because we saw that many women facing complex challenges were not engaging with mainstream services or mixed-gender programmes. Many walk through our doors carrying the weight of difficult experiences and feeling defined by what has gone wrong in their lives. When these women are given time in nature, space and genuine belief in their potential, they begin to see themselves differently. They start to recognise their own strengths and ability to make choices about their future. And the impact of this does not stop with the individual, the benefits ripple outwards. We often see women go on to support others, volunteer, or simply bring a renewed sense of hope and resilience into their everyday relationships.”
Scott Spowage, founder of SRFCA, said:
“Services like SRFCA push gender equality forward because they remove a hidden penalty that falls disproportionately on women: the long-term ‘trauma tax’ on safety, health, confidence, time, and earning potential. When support is available that is local and truly trauma-informed, it doesn’t just help women feel better, it changes what’s possible in their lives and what they can contribute. When women and girls are given access to quality recovery services it doesn’t just restore wellbeing, it restores participation and that makes communities and society stronger as a whole. We are now beginning to see this in politics too.”
[1] https://www.gov.scot/publications/women-in-entrepreneurship-report-response/
[2] https://www.generationequal.scot/sport
[3] https://www.gov.scot/publications/domestic-abuse-statistics-recorded-police-scotland-2023-24/pages/incidents-of-domestic-abuse/
