Womens Aid groups under threat in the Highlands in favour of 'gender neutral' provision

[ArabellaScott]

https://www.holyrood.com/news/view,genderneutral-domestic-abuse-plan-could-force-womens-aid-closures-council-is-warned

'Inverness Women’s Aid, Lochaber Women’s Aid, Ross-shire and Skye Women’s Aid and Sutherland Women’s Aid have been serving the public for decades.
But they say discussions with Highland Council have revealed plans to move towards a single service provider for the entire region, covering both men and women. Backed by national umbrella body Scottish Women’s Aid, they are calling on the council to rethink the proposal.'

Unfortunately this approach by local councils has been going on for some time, not just in Scotland eg Brighton

But almost worse, are the councils who insist DV is just a "housing" issue, and that providing hostel spaces is all the duty required of them.

Awful. Have they a specific single service provider in mind?

I would wonder about serco or the salvation army as they have form for bidding for women-only services and making them unisex.

I've just been looking on HC website, can't see anything. I think this would come under Social Care? Unfortunately LA websites are like wading through mud. I can't find who would be making the decision.

'“The Highland Council is a member of a shared procurement service which leads on commissioning across Highland, Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire councils. As part of this exercise, we are looking to maximise public value for our expenditure and have taken advice from our shared procurement service in relation the contracts we currently have with the four Woman’s Aid groups that operate in Highland.”'

When will they ever learn?

I'll see if I can find it later, but one of the English councils that used the "best value for expenditure" rational have been challenged.

And some Councillors (after the had voted for it) that they never realised it had been proposed on financial grounds.

And I think Brighton also faced challenges for using the best us of finances arguement.

So it maybe worth lobbying councillors rather that officers.

Unless of course Councillors have already expressed opinions about women only services aren't essential.

Is it Serco that is connected to Mridal Wadhwa's partner?

Just as likely to be a local housing association who have been hoovering up contracts like this, and they can get extra bits of funding tacked on.

As this press release implies, they are letting an "officer" do a bean counting approach.
https://www.highland.gov.uk/news/article/16363/highland_council_review_of_provision_of_domestic_abuse_services

Thanks. That could easily just be a procurement officer, I guess. Will see if I can dig up any more info.

Yes that's the husbands company

It's SACRO.

https://grahamlinehan.substack.com/p/mridrul-wadha-sacro-and-the-14-million/comments

Have lost the link, but saw a story from a paper based in the area which indicates local people are asking questions, and on what was this decision based.

Wasn't particularly about women working autonomously, but very much refuge services should be part of local support, not just one of a chain of a big business.

If I can find the link again will add.

But would think at this stage and local publicity, whether print news, radio or online, which makes those making the final decision aware that they are being watched - and will be judged - might make them think.

I'm deeply shocked at this turn of events.
They took over a project in Edinburgh a while ago that then completely lost its feminist focus.

SACRO hasn't been named, to be clear - it's an initial discussion about how to provide services.

Nobody has been appointed. It could be anyone. eg a housing association.

That's why at this stage as much publicity about them taking the decision on "maximising value" needs to be challenged.

Specialist services always cost more. Why is it always women who are thought not to deserve the extra cost of appropriate services.

Quote:

We recognise and acknowledge the concerns that have been raised by the Women’s Aid groups and will continue to take cognisance of their views and those of other stakeholders as we develop our model.

No final decision has been taken on the future funding and service delivery model and the process of review outlined is very much in the ‘consultation’ stage.
We hope that we can continue to work with stakeholders as we draft the specification and PIN and consult more widely before considering our next steps in any tender process.

We will continue to support the current funding model during this process.

Although maybe from this part of the process it might be good to have the refuge projects indicate which points they think need to be made.

https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/council-funding-plans-threaten-future-of-highland-domestic-abuse-services

I see that the agreed statement from the WA groups concerned hasn't been posted (or did I miss it). Most of them are saying they dont have staff capacity to deal with enquiries.

Highland Council's funding plans threaten the future of Women's Aid domestic abuse services across the region
Statement from: Inverness Women’s Aid, Lochaber Women’s Aid, Ross-shire and Skye Women’s Aid, Caithness and Sutherland Women’s Aid and Scottish Women’s Aid
https://womensaid.scot/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/261124_Media-Statement_Highland-Councils-funding-plans-threaten-the-future-of-Womens-Aid-domestic-abuse-services.pdf

This is a different situation, but a refuge at the end of 3 year funding, has not heard if they will get any money after March.

All during the 16 Days of Action there have been big statements from Government, politicians about needing to deal with male violence, but they cant even get the basics of long term sustainable funding that would allow groups to focus on their work, not lurching from on crisis to another.

https://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/news/24760939.job-service-fears-amid-uncertain-funding-womens-aid/

These services should be funded as emergency services. Regular, predictable, adequate funding.

I once suggested this re both RC and WA in a "thrid sector meeting". All the men laughed.

Not because no funding works like this, but at the sheer presumption of thinking supporting women was that important.

Laughed?! FFS.

And those who did say anything it was all WATM.

It was a few years ago, so it was also the idea that a woman would not only think that but say it out loud.

Now of course it would be seen as being transphobic.

Interesting to see Emma Roddick, stalwart supporter of Mridul Wadhwa, here defending the existence of single sex services. Clip of her raising the issue of the Highlands groups funding in Scotparl.

https://x.com/EmmaRoddickSNP/status/1869744993633767518

'I share the concern of constituents over the news that Highland Council is consulting on plans to invite a single provider to deliver domestic abuse services for all genders across the region. Any move which limits access to support for women in need requires careful discussion.'

I suppose the tell here is 'all genders'.

There are only two sexes, Emma. Gender is meaningless.