The proposed grant will enable DLD to initiate research and examine the extent of issues around Domestic Abuse and/or Coercive Control experienced by women within the Deaf (BSL) Community in Scotland. Under Covid-19, DLD?s specialist advocacy service has seen a surge in reports of violence, abuse and sexual assaults being committed against deaf women. Project monies will be used to hire a female Deaf consultant, who is herself a survivor of domestic abuse, to form an online Deaf Women’s Discussion Group. The information gathered will feed into a final project report which will highlight the prevalence of violence against Deaf women, what they know about the mainstream specialist women’s support services and what are the barriers to accessing such services. It will also provide evidence to funders and government at local and national levels of the exclusion experienced by Deaf women, illustrating the urgent need to work with them to co-design and co-produce inclusive support. It is estimated that between 30-50 women will directly benefit from this project by taking part in group discussions, with a much larger number benefiting from the final project report. The organisation has requested funds amounting to £5,000 which will cover the entirety of the overall grant amount. This grant will contribute to delivering the project over 4 months and will cover the following costs: ? Deaf female consultant’s contractual fees – £2,000 based off 50 hours contact time (£40 per hr) ? Translation of evidence for report = £1,000 ? Facilitation and writing of report = £1,000 ? Translation of report into BSL video format = £1,000