A call to all wims to challenge registered charities who claim to be women’s services who include “transwomen”

[Hedgehogforshort]

Inspired by a post about Nottinghams Women’s Centre being trans inclusive, I think it is time we did something. Like pull the ruddy rug on them.

I don’t think it will need the extensive work of the NHS data thread.

There are hundreds of alleged women’s only services who are registered charities. They mostly have a governing document describing themselves as for women only but do not mention “transwomen” in their objects, but do in unlawful policy documents.

All charities have a beneficiary group, which they cannot stray from.

Also if they change their objectives to be “inclusive’”IMHO” the funds they hold on behalf of the original beneficiaries, must be handed back or ring fenced, which is why some of the major charities have conceded, ergo the WI and GG.

My idea is that we target our own localities and make a complaint to the charity commission, about the charity we are a potential beneficiary of.

what do you all think? Happy to coordinate this though i may need @knottyauty

meanwhile i am off to look at a few national bodies

Following.

Excellent idea. Charity sector is hugely captured

Count me in.

Great idea. I'll start Googling

I noticed one cannot sort charities registered as women only services, so i was thinking to FOI them so we have a list.

Solace women’s aid.

‘Solace has an inclusive definition of women including trans women.’

I had to sit through an horrendous FGM awareness session recently where the trainer, despite showing graphic depictions of mutilated female genitalia, referred several times to how people identify and other gender bollocks.

Fucking insulting.

I checked out solace they have sort of covered their arse with the phrase in their governing document “in particular women and girls” the question then has to be how are funds allocated.

i am thinking we need to identify clear breaches, park/identigfy nebulous concepts and hit them next.

foi doesn't apply to charities. They're not public bodies

I think only way is to go through charity commission register and check governing documents

Yes please, see this post about a Brighton charity dance troop https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5489556-5489556-brighton-dance-troop-project-female-raises-money-for-female-safety-alarms-guess-who-gets-to-be-in-the-troop-and-get-safety-alarms

I meant FOI the Charity Commission

yes that makes sense 👍🏻

I'm still plugging away at this

Page 4 | RSPB women only walks including men | Mumsnet https://share.google/8oJ77lrPah1IT4mBK

Mumsnet at its finest. I want to be involved too.

Will work on an FOI then

I'd be up to help out with this.

Posters may find this article from 2024 helpful as an example of the problems faced. At that point the Charity Commission refused to act. The charities in this article are apparently all funded by organisations that require them to include men in groups for women as a condition of funding (eg Bristol City Council, North Somerset Council, police etc). This has continued despite the SC judgement.

https://childrenoftransitioners.org/the-trans-lobby-has-destroyed-provision-for-female-abuse-victims-in-bristol-and-elsewhere-and-will-do-the-same-for-the-victims-bill/

In recent weeks, I understand the Police Commissionner has told SARSAS, (whom the police part fund to provide rape support), to obey the law, and the Director of Bristol Womens Voice (who seeks to silence and exclude all GC women, including abuse survivors) has announced she is moving on. Whether this will result in any changes I have no idea.

Womankind Bristol- whose charity beneficiaries were supposed to be women and girls (especially those who have experienced sexual abuse) state on their website as at 13.2.26 'Womankind is for women and for those who identify as such in a significant way, including those who experience discrimination as women for instance trans women, intersex women, and non-binary people. We aim to provide safe spaces for all women, irrespective of their gender identity and we will avoid making assumptions about your pronouns. '(https://www.womankindbristol.org.uk/about-us/our-commitment-to-equality-diversity-and-inclusion)

The failure of many charities to adhere to the UK SC ruling needs intervention from the Charity Commission and government, so good luck and thanks to all the mumsnetters who help out @Hedgehogforshort ...I think many charities are just assuming that because many vulnerable female 'beneficiaries' don't have the financial or mental resources to take them to court, they will carry on as they are as so many charities are run by TRAs.

Posters may find this article from 2024 helpful as an example of the problems faced. At that point the Charity Commission refused to act. The charities in this article are apparently all funded by organisations that require them to include men in groups for women as a condition of funding (eg Bristol City Council, North Somerset Council, police etc). This has continued despite the SC judgement.

IIJM that thinks it's a little odd that the police should fund anyone, whether laudable or not? Shouldn't the police budget be spent on, er, policing, and disbursing money to various worthy causes be left to other parts of government? Surely this is another example of politicising the police?

I believe that the police and crime commissioners have some discretion to spend on work that is "community engagement". Quite what the parameters are I'm not sure but this was challenged in the the court case in Northumbria last year.

It’s not the police it is the Police and Crime Commissioner, who manages the budget and priorities of the police force and has a pot for community projects such as IDVA’s

I'm keen to help with this, I've been getting used to writing letters since I first found Mumsnet! I will look locally to see what I can find.

Yes I believe the Police and crime commissionners have funding from the MoJ to fund victim services. Such services get funding from different pots- local councils and NHS also chip in.

In Avon and Somerset area the police AND the commissionner were very involved in the decision to end female only abuse support (which they did at the same time as lying publicly they supported female victims of male violence). Nextlink were just one example, and until recently senior police held trustee roles in SARSAS (who run the rape abuse support services) and did so the entire time women who need SS support were excluded.

Have a look at this group of current SARSAS trustees all with TRA pronouns- they have been very reluctant to allow female only rape support.
www.sarsas.org.uk/who-we-are/our-trustees/

Womankind are a classic example of this. This is from their governing document

Charitable objects
To help women and girls improve their mental health and well-being (particularly, but not limited to those whose mental health and well-being has been affected by sexual violence or abuse), through the provision of advice and information, and the provision of free or affordable support and professional therapy, and a therapeutic environment.

so yes they are breaking their constifution

Would be happy to help with this. I do have some sympathy when charities have to include blokes or get no funding at all which is dreadful.

Off out for a meal so will respond more tomorrow

I was remembering the police Trustees at the charity Safelives not SARSAS- check them out here:
https://safelives.org.uk/about-us/who-we-are/our-people/

Savelives has a lot of influence nationally and wrote the trans inclusion guidance used by many abuse support orgs stating no organisation is allowed to have single sex abuse support for women -as it excludes men who lie they are women. Their 2024 'Impact report' made no mention of the female victims they excluded from help- funny that. Exclusion of GC women and victims of trans attackers who need SS services from help seems to be central to their operation. Here is their current page on this:
https://safelives.org.uk/resources-library/trans-inclusion-guidance/

Putting off obeying the law protecting women for as long as possible. Hypocrites one and all.....