THERE has been a rise in the number of domestic abuse victims seeking help in East Renfrewshire.

The increase in people stepping forward is being put down to a heightened confidence in the local authority’s domestic abuse service.

At a recent meeting of the East Renfrewshire Council’s Cabinet, councillors heard how the East Renfrewshire Domestic Abuse Project (ERDAP) has been ensuring appropriate levels of support are available to women, children and young people affected by domestic abuse in the region over the last two years.

An interim progress update on ERC’s delivery of its Equality agenda was passed last week which showed a marked increase in the amount of referrals ERDAP has received in each quarter of the current year.

ERDAP has dealt with 43 new referrals and the demand for its drop-in, helpline, outreach, refuge and therapeutic support services has grown by 11 per cent every three months in 2016.

In total, the service has supported 169 women, children and young people in the last 12 weeks.

Partnership working across a host of organisations was credited with boosting domestic abuse victims’ confidence to ask for assistance.

Of the referrals ERDAP has received in this period, just less than half came from partner agencies including the Domestic Abuse Task Force, Police Scotland and the Request for Assistance Team.

The report also noted a considerable increase in the safety, accommodation and support networks accessible to families who engaged with ERDAP.

Service users indicated their self-esteem and confidence had “greatly improved” as a result, along with issues relating to money and children.

Cabinet members discussed the report on Thursday, September 15, to review the progress of council plans to ensure “equality groups live their lives safe from discrimination, harassment, victimisation and violence”.

ERDAP can be contacted by calling 0141 876 9565 or by calling into the office at 56 Kelburn Street, Barrhead.

Another intermediate outcome highlighted by the report into the council’s delivery of its Equalities Agenda revealed victims of identity-based harassment and violence in East Renfrewshire are “satisfied” with the support they currently receive.

There were 45 reported hate crime incidents from January to December 2015, 43 of which were dealt with satisfactorily.

Two were not resolved.