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STATEMENT ON THE CLOSURE OF CLYDEBANK WOMEN’S AID
We are appalled and distressed at the closure of Clydebank Women’s Aid. West Dunbartonshire has one of the highest levels of domestic abuse in Scotland and the organisation is the only violence against women service in the town. The loss of this service is insurmountable.
In their last violence against women strategy the West Dunbartonshire partners stated;
“In West Dunbartonshire, we recognise that the inequality between men and women is the cause and consequence of this violence and abuse and are therefore committed to take a gendered approach with the objective of tackling both.”
The closure of Clydebank Women’s Aid does not evidence this commitment. Not only will women and children’s lives be put at risk, but perpetrators will be emboldened by the fact that women will have nowhere to escape to.
Some in the council would have us believe that this was the sole responsibility of Clydebank Women’s Aid. Not only is this a complete lack of responsibility, but we believe it is a in an attempt to deflect attention away from decisions they have made. Their distorted narrative undermines and damages the reputation of the group that has given their all under extremely difficult circumstances. Not least of all the continued depletion, in real terms, of the funding they receive. The lack of increase in funding over the years and the removal of tenancy sustainment funding, we believe, has had a direct impact on Clydebank Women’s Aid’s ability to continue to provide services.
Our elected representatives and council officers are charged with the protection of our community, and in relation to violence against women it is our opinion that they have failed, not just in relation to the closure of Clydebank Women’s Aid, but also in responding to violence against women in general.
We call on the community of West Dunbartonshire to fight to protect women’s right to safety and to demand accountability of those who should have protected them.
For more information email clydebankwsw@gmail.com or phone 07774 882763.
Every women and child deserves safety
Clydebank Women Supporting Women is a campaign group of local women concerned that, with the closure of Clydebank Women's Aid, there are no specialist violence against women services based in Clydebank. This is not a service. Below there are numbers women can contact for support.
The group is run by women volunteering there time. This means it may take time to answer your emails and calls.
Contact us
Email: clydebankwsw@gmail.com
Tel: 07774 882763
Support Services
Dumbarton and District Women's Aid
A confidential organisation which provides information, support and, where appropriate, refuge for women and any accompanying children who have experienced or at risk of domestic abuse.
Tel: 01389 751036
Email: group@ddwa.org.uk