Monklands Woman's Aid lose contract - given to 'gender neutral' facilities

[ArabellaScott]

Statement from Monklands Womens Aid:

'We are devastated at NLC’s decision to remove funding from proven specialist women’s aid services.
Monklands Women’s Aid is a grassroots organisation that has been serving our community for 40 years. It is built on the premise of women supporting women, and as such we are a trusted independent local service which helps change and save lives. This decision undermines the availability of quality proven local independent specialist support.
Monklands Women’s Aid will survive because of separate funding and will continue to offer women’s, children and young person’s services, as well as offer specialist refuge provision.
Our core focus is supporting women, children and young people who have suffered domestic abuse and our approach, practice and understanding has been built up by listening to those we work with. We listen to those we serve and we shape our services accordingly. They know what they need and what works for them so we listen and respond in a manner that meets their individual need.
We are trusted by our community, and have grown out of grass roots movements in the area. This level of trust and understanding is not something that can be replicated by generic providers. Be under no allusion domestic abuse is a form of gender based abuse and women routinely lose their lives due to domestic abuse. This decision to award a contract to a non-specialist community justice organisation makes the mistake of seeing domestic abuse as gender neutral and will negatively impact on women, children and young people.'

From Neil Gray MP:

'Last night, North Lanarkshire Council revealed that the local Women’s Aid organisations had lost the tender to continue providing services to domestic abuse victims in the area.
This is an extremely disappointing move and means there is an unsecure future for Monklands Womens Aid, Motherwell & District Women’s Aid and North Lanarkshire Women's Aid services and staff. I also believe this decision has the potential to harm the confidence of women and children who have relied on the services of local Women's Aid groups because of the relationships and trust built over many years.'

There is a petition on change.org, 'Council to continue funding womans aid'.

Shocking news. I can't find much more about it, this is all on facebook posts, not in the news as far as I can find

Do we know who they lost it too?

This just happened in Brighton as well.

This is from the petition text:
'They have given funding to sacro who is for both male and female but they do not specialise in domestic abuse'

www.sacro.org.uk/

BBC News just reporting that Wearside Women In Need has had 50% increase in calls and that the injuries women are presenting with are worse.

How many dead women a week are we at now? 3-5?

It's almost as if no one cares about women.

We've said for years, it's going to have to go back to women personally funding women's resources themselves out of their own pockets and their own fundraising work. While at the same time paying taxes.

The plus side is, without government/council funding, their hands won't be tied with who they have to provide services to and what boundaries they are allowed to have.

Neil Gray is SNP and appears to be supporting the MWA right to limit their services to women?

That's interesting.

@vivariumvivariumsvivaria

BBC News just reporting that Wearside Women In Need has had 50% increase in calls and that the injuries women are presenting with are worse.

How many dead women a week are we at now? 3-5?

It's almost as if no one cares about women.

Just watching this too. It’s beyond shocking for councils to defund women’s aid services in the current climate especially. Horrific.

That sacro org looks as irrelevant as it’s possible to be to the dynamics of DA. Awful. Just awful.

#waronwomen indeed.

Mixed sex shelters often don't take children. Surely the council is obliged to provide suitable services for people who are at the most risk?

They’re replacing domestic violence shelters with an organisation that specialises in “community conflict resolution” and supporting offenders?

I see dead people. Specifically, dead women. Whoever made this decision will have women’s blood on their hands.

SACRO is a great org but it does something different. This is shocking, but I suspect we will see more as the financial impact of the pandemic really bites on top of everything else.

Truly shocking (although sadly not surprising).

SACRO: Scottish Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders.

Focused on the needs of offenders, barely a mention of victims. A very laudable organisation I am sure but in no way suitable for providing support to women and children who are victims of domestic violence. This is a shocking decisions at any time but especially now given the increase in domestic and other sex based violence.

I had a quick look at SACRO's website, they made a submission to the hate crime bill consultation that did say they see dv as a 'gendered' issue and talked about VWAG. But also had a lot of words about non-binary people's needs. I don't know them, or even exactly all of what is happening - just sharing what I've seen on fb and that petition.

I would strongly say this isn’t sacro to blame don’t direct the anger there

This is happening with terrifying frequency. I'm afraid Michelle is right about having to build from the ground up again.

I am so fed up this week.

It is as if Scottish society seeks to harm women.

@RJnomore1

I would strongly say this isn’t sacro to blame don’t direct the anger there

I would normally agree with this @RJnomore1 as SACRO are a fantastic organisation. But then again, wtf were they doing bidding for services where they have no specialist knowledge?

I came here to post this. Women's Aid has lost the tender for their 3 organisations in North Lanarkshire. I'm fucking livid.
Asked why on Instagram and they said they've been told clearly it's because they don't support men and don't support perpetrators.

@vivariumvivariumsvivaria

Neil Gray is SNP and appears to be supporting the MWA right to limit their services to women?

That's interesting.

So is the local MSP who is SNP

Christ.

Doubly interesting, Bilbo.

@BilboBercow

I came here to post this. Women's Aid has lost the tender for their 3 organisations in North Lanarkshire. I'm fucking livid. Asked why on Instagram and they said they've been told clearly it's because they don't support men and don't support perpetrators.

My God.

So angry that women are losing these services that are for women and children. Surely there is conflict of interest here. And to do this when the DV statistics have risen is absolutely outrageous. Awful awful news. Solidarity with the organisations concerned.

I'm afraid Michelle is right about having to build from the ground up again.

While publicly shaming the fuck out of the government as loudly as possible that women have been abandoned to do this - while paying taxes for facilities that aren't for them and don't meet their needs.

And with determination that this time, women's organisations never again get into bed with male dominated male centric politics and their appalling funding criteria. Because look what happens to women when they do.

This is definitely a pattern.