A Scottish charity has called for “sustainable, ring-fenced funding” for domestic abuse services as it announced its closure.
Clydebank Women’s Aid, which opened in 1981, said in a statement that it plans to stop operating after 17 July.
The charity said its decision had “not been made lightly” but it was “no longer in a position to provide the support that women, children, and young people in our community need”.
In its closure statement, the local charity said: “This is a call to action: for sustainable, ring-fenced funding for Women’s Aid groups across the country, for recognition of the scale and impact of domestic abuse, and for the right of every woman, child, and young person to live free from fear of violence and abuse.”
Scottish Women’s Aid, of which the local charity is a member, expressed sadness at its closure.
“As an autonomous organisation, the closure of Clydebank Women’s Aid has been an internal matter for its board,” it said in a statement.
“Our immediate concern is, and always will be, for the safety and wellbeing of the women and children affected by domestic abuse in the area.
“We are working with other services on transition arrangements to ensure continued support for those currently using the service, and for anyone in the area who may need help in the future.”
Financial challenges
Clydebank Women’s Aid employed six people, according to its most recently filed accounts for the year to March 2024.
In the accounts, the charity described 2023-24 as a “another challenging year” financially and for recruitment.
It recorded a total income of £307,000, most of which came through a core grant from West Dunbartonshire council, and an expenditure of £230,000, the vast majority of which was on staff costs.
“We continue to work within tight budget constraints as set by housing benefit and West Dunbartonshire council funding levels,” the 2024-24 accounts read. “With this seeing no rise in line with inflation for a number of years.
“The cost of our energy and other contracts we have in place rose due to the cost-of-living crisis and we have managed this well within our budget but it remains a strain.”
Commenting on the closure, a West Dunbartonshire council spokesperson said: “There has been no change to the £125,000 council funding provided to Clydebank Women’s Aid.
“Both West Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership and West Dunbartonshire council have been engaging with the organisation to establish how refuge and support services will be managed and women supported going forward.”
‘Failing’ of Scottish government
Scottish Labour MP for West Dunbartonshire Douglas McAllister said the charity’s closure was “a failing of the Scottish government”.
“There was precedent for providing adequate national funding to support Women’s Aid across Scotland, but the SNP has now failed to sustain that,” he said.
A Scottish government spokesperson said: “It was with sadness that ministers noted the closure of Clydebank Women’s Aid, which has served its community since 1981.
“Record levels of funding have been invested in organisations that provide these vital support services to victims of domestic abuse.
“We have announced an uplift of £2.4m to the Delivering Equally Safe Fund, bringing our total investment for 2025-26 up to £21.6m for the year ahead.
“While the Scottish government only receiving single-year funding makes multi-year funding challenging, we recognise the impact that uncertainty can have on organisations to deliver critical services.”
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