​Charity will run domestic abuse and forced marriage helpline.

Scottish Women’s Aid (SWA) has been awarded a contract to run the Scotland’s National Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline.

The organisation has been at the forefront of the campaign to tackle domestic violence and provide help and support to women and children who have experienced it.

SWA will provide specialised advice through the 24/7 helpline, based on nearly 40 years of frontline and campaign work.

The charity will take over the contract on 19 October and will complete a process of moving staff to the SWA office in Edinburgh early next year.

A pool of volunteers will also be recruited to answer calls, provide information and advice and act as the first point for accessing services.

We are excited by the opportunity to offer help to women and children experiencing domestic abuse

It will provide free and confidential information and support service to callers.

SWA said the operation of the helpline will be grounded in a feminist analysis of violence against women and the “gendered” definition of domestic abuse adopted by the Scottish Government.

The charity will work in partnership with domestic abuse group Respect, which will provide a service for male survivors of domestic abuse.

SWA chief executive Dr Marsha Scott said: “We are really excited by the opportunity to offer help to women and children experiencing domestic abuse, and provide them with practical information and routes to safety through a dedicated 24 hour service.

“As an organisation, we have decades of experience and expertise from working directly with women, children and young people, and ensuring that services are available to them.

“We are looking forward to gaining more experience and will listen to and learn from what women and children tell us to further improve our services.

“Anyone who is experiencing domestic abuse and is looking for help can call the helpline on 0800 027 1234.”