Bea Jones has been has been campaigning for greater support for bereaved families
The mother of a woman raped and murdered in Glasgow has welcomed new cash to support families of crime victims.
Almost £14 million has been given by the Scottish Government to Victim Support Scotland (VSS).
The cash will, in part, be used to provide murder victims' families with a dedicated case worker.
This was welcomed by Bea Jones, the mother of Moira Jones, who was murdered in Glasgow’s Queen's Park in May 2008.
Bea Jones has been campaigning for greater support for bereaved families.
She said that at the moment the support system was made up of "bits and pieces" and can leave people feeling "neglected and alone".
She said: "Hopefully this one-on-one service will help enormously.”
The funding is being made available over the next three years, with £1.2m being invested in a new homicide service
It was announced by justice secretary Michael Matheson. He said: "I am aware that victims and their families often have to turn to multiple organisations to get information about the criminal justice process and find out what support they are entitled to receive.
"This can feel like they are being passed from one organisation to another – adding to their trauma when they are most vulnerable.
"I want to improve the situation and that is why I am announcing funding for VSS to work in partnership with criminal justice and victim support bodies to develop a new approach. Along with the homicide service it will ease the journey through the criminal justice process for victims and their families."
Kate Wallace, chief executive of VSS, said: "The creation of the homicide service and the victim-centred approach are very positive new developments and we will be working closely with all our partners to make these a reality."
Since her daughter's death Mrs Jones has set-up the Moira Fund, a charity offering financial support to victims' families.
She said: "We had a wonderful support team in family and friends but not everyone has that and some people's needs are more than others.
"There is also the added stress for so many people of financial struggles because with the loss of a loved one come the expense of a funeral, lost wages, illness – mental and physical – just day-to-day coping and living."
