Since Autumn last year, AMIS has been taking part in BBC Radio 4’s ‘The Untold‘ series. In this half-an-hour radio documentary, our Services Manager Iris reveals the struggle we face every day to support the growing number of men that need our crucial support.
You can listen to the programme on the BBC Sounds website.
Eric Liddell Centre
The documentary opens in our old office in the Eric Liddell Centre (ELC) in Edinburgh, where our national helpline operated from. Helpline Support Officier, Elizabeth, outlines who we support and the nature of the charity.
Iris then explains how Police Scotland reports that each year there are 60,000 reported cases of domestic abuse, with an estimated 20% having a male victim. AMIS supports around 450 men a year at the moment which is rapidly increasing.
“Where are the other 9,500 men going? Where are they going for support, where are they going for help?”
Iris Quar, Services Manager
Elizabeth goes on to share how many men don’t always think they are being abused:
“A lot of the time we have people calling up and […] the first thing they’ll say is ‘I’m not being abused but…’ and then then they’ll describe examples of coercive control.”
Elizabeth, Helpline Support Officer
Iris explains how “it’s a challenge just to keep the doors open” but The Robertson Trust had offered us £14,000 in funding if we could match this with other funds.
Alison’s House
Then Alison, one of our founders and the current Secretary, shares why she and others set up the charity discovering men they knew were being abused by their partners. AMIS was then incorporated and operated from an office in Dunfermline from 2010 .
Alison explains that, with funding from The Big Lottery, we were able to operate a full service from 2014 to 2018. This funding allowed us to create a successful and independently approved project.
Iris joins the room to reveal there has been a £10,000 donation from a generous couple that can be used to match some of The Robertson Trust funding. However, she explains how it still only gives us the bare minimum to provide a skeleton service to Scotland’s men.
She also reveals that AMIS will be moving to a new office to Ferry Road, Edinburgh to reduce costs and give the organisation time to develop.
Moving Day & Raffle
After eight-years at the ELC, AMIS is moving to the new office.
Alison revealed that we had raised £1500 through crowdfunding but one generous individual donated £3000 to help us meet our £4500 target. With other small funding coming in, we can last for six months at the current reduced service.
The Christmas raffle that was also drawn after moving completed raised another £800, with prizes generously donated through itison and their partners.
New Office
In the new year, the documentary returns to Iris who explains how AMIS is still surviving, with reduced staff hours but a growing number of calls and around three new clients a day. The need for AMIS is greater than ever, and the funding we receive is at its lowest point.
Our Next Steps
AMIS is still receiving calls and is planning to support the thousands of men that need us. We would like to thank the BBC for sharing our story, the many donors for their generosity and our staff and volunteers who keep our services going.
If you would like to support us, you can donate with Virgin Money Giving, fundraise or volunteer. You can also share our story on social media and with your friends.
If you would like to make a larger donation or support us in a different way, please get in touch.
