New Women's Aid manager hopes to work with colleagues across the Highlands
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A new manager has been appointed to Inverness Women's Aid which was recently at the centre of controversy over plans to close the city's refuge.
The move would have left a six-flat refuge in Dingwall – which was already under pressure – to serve the entire region.
Lisa Buchanan (42), who has taken up her new role, has previously worked in public and third sector organisations including the Western Isles Rape Crisis Centre, Cantraybridge College in Croy and Albyn Housing Society.
She now hopes to help create a vision for the future for Inverness Women's Aid which will be put to the charity's board members later this year.
In April, The Ross-shire Journal and Inverness Courier revealed Women's Aid was planning to close the city's 12-flat refuge and introduce a new service model including outreach support from an office which would help women to obtain safe accommodation in the community.
But the plan sparked furore and fears that such a move would put women's lives at risk as it would have left a six-flat refuge in Dingwall to serve the entire Highlands.
Following discussions between Highland Council and Women's Aid, it was agreed refuge and supported accommodation would continue.
At the same time, the council said it would work with all Women’s Aid groups in Highland to review service provision, in close collaboration with Women’s Aid Scotland.
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Having taken up the post of manager, Ms Buchanan said she will approach her role with an open mind and will hold meetings with staff and the organisation's partners.
Ms Buchanan, who intends to present her recommendations to the board later this year, acknowledged she has a lot of learning to do.
"There are new models of service to be discussed based on what women need and want," she said.
"There is work to do between now and the end of this year to understand the women coming forward and our delivery and what they need in the future.
"Sadly and regrettably, the need for Women's Aid specialist services is not going away."
She will also look at how the organisation works with colleagues across the Highlands and at Scotland level too.
"I am getting everyone together," she said. "I will watch, listen and learn before I go to the board with my own recommendations about a service redesign going forward."
She said the council would clearly be a part of that conversation.
"Given we have had a bump on the road which has caused our partners concern and caused communities concern, my job is to understand the difficulties and aspirations and to create a vision for Inverness Women's Aid going forward," she said.
Following the controversy, Highland councillor Emma Knox was nominated by Inverness councillors to sit on the Inverness Women's Aid board.
Cllr Knox, who represents Aird and Loch Ness, said having a councillor on the board would provide an extra level of communication between the council and Inverness Women's Aid.
"Everyone has the right to feel safe, wherever they are, but I know this isn’t the reality for too many women and young people and I have enormous respect for the Women’s Aid staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to change that," she said.
"My work on women’s and victims’ policy, as a prosecutor and with third sector and community groups has given me a good understanding of domestic abuse and its impact on women and young people.
"I realise there are significant challenges and I will work with the Inverness team, wider Women’s Aid network, partners and stakeholders to identify and implement evidence-based approaches that meet the needs of the survivors of gender-based violence in the Inverness area and across the Highland Council area."
