Reprieve for Women's Aid groups after council give in to pressure

Two Women’s Aid organisations have been offered a lifeline after a council said it planned to cut their funding.

West Dunbartonshire Council said it would withdraw funding for Clydebank Women’s Aid and Dumbarton District Women's Aid last month due to budget constraints.

But after an online petition signed by more than 15,000 protesters and a demonstration outside council offices, councillors have agreed to offer new funding to the groups.

Council chiefs are offering to make £100,000 of alternative funding available under a different model of service, which they say will safeguard the Women’s Aid services.

An additional £450,000 has been transferred to West Dunbartonshire’s community planning partnership budget over the next three years, which Women’s Aid can apply for a share of.

A Clydebank Women’s Aid spokeswoman said: “We are happy that some more money has been made available under that budget for the protection of vulnerable women.

We are asking people to watch this space and continuing supporting both Clydebank and Dumbarton Women’s Aid groups

“It’s still early days, but we have arranged a meeting with a council officer to look at how we can apply for these funds.

“We are cautiously optimistic we can reach a good agreement with the council so we can continue with our services. However, we expect there may still be a shortfall which will have an impact on services.

“We are asking people to watch this space and continuing supporting both Clydebank and Dumbarton Women’s Aid groups.”

The groups said the closure would mean vulnerable women fleeing violence could be at risk of being killed.

The service was previously funded from the homeless budget which is under severe pressure from welfare reform.

However councillor David McBride, council housing convener, said it became clear to many that the services Women’s Aid was providing were not homelessness services.

He added: “The council has supported Women’s Aid for many years and, despite the 22% cut in funding from the Scottish Government, we are committed to continue this support.

“In last week’s budget we transferred a further £450,000 to the community planning partnership for Women’s Aid to provide further services over the next three years.”

Dumbarton District Women’s Aid’s operational manager Janine Jardine said “This ensures that specialist support services, which includes safe and secure refuge provision for women, children and young people in West Dunbartonshire can continue.

“We fully understand the budget issues the council faces and we have also cut our running costs substantially in line with budget pressures.”