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31.03.2025 / News / Solace

Victory for UVW: Solace Women’s Aid workers stop devastating job cuts

“Victory belongs to those who stand against injustice and unfairness, who believe in the power of collective action to create real, lasting change.” – Karina Cuji, UVW member and Independent Domestic Violence Advisor 

The workers at Solace Women’s Aid have won!

After months of tireless campaigning, the threat of redundancies at the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) charity has been completely withdrawn. The Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs), who provide life-saving support to survivors of domestic abuse, celebrated a historic victory after Tower Hamlets Council confirmed continued funding, safeguarding the service and every single job. 

This win follows an intense struggle against proposed cuts that would have slashed the team by a third, leaving vulnerable women and children at risk. In response, the IDVAs, members of United Voices of the World (UVW), launched a high-profile campaign, gaining widespread support from the local community and MPs, and which included a town hall rally attended by hundreds of people. They also made history by voting for indefinite strike action—a first for Solace or any domestic abuse charity. Their determination forced the council to listen and act.

The proposed cuts would have severely impacted vulnerable people, predominantly women, and the quality of essential services in a borough with the second-highest level of domestic abuse cases in London, 70% of whom are against women.

IDVA’s provide emotional support, safety planning, risk assessments and advocate with police, social services and housing. Their work empowers survivors to rebuild their lives. The team tackles systemic barriers, helping survivors navigate immigration restrictions, financial challenges and legal hurdles. They connect survivors with solicitors, manage homicide risks with professionals and ensure every step is consent-based.

Slashing Solace Women’s Aid’s team by a third would have had a catastrophic impact on vulnerable people, especially women and children and severely compromised the quality of these essential services.

Syeda Batool Zehra, a UVW member and IDVA, described the determination it took to win: “Our work is essential for survivors of domestic abuse, and we refused to stand by while cuts threatened these life-saving services. We campaigned for months, relentlessly including managing casework, participating in meetings and protests, and sacrificing time with family, pets, and loved ones.”

She also acknowledged the strength of collective action:“This victory would not have been possible without the support of our service users, IDVAS, and, of course, our union, United Voices of the World (UVW). Tower Hamlets service users and UVW members stood united, and together we fought and secured this fair and just outcome win for the community. We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported us in this fight. We would like to express our deep gratitude to UVW for being our powerful voice throughout this process, amplifying our concerns, and advocating for our rights. Additionally, we want to acknowledge the incredible strength and solidarity of the entire Tower Hamlets SASS team, who stood firm against unjust job cuts, proving that there is indeed power in unity. We would like to thank Tower Hamlets Council for listening to our concerns, recognising the importance of the SASS Team’s work, and committing to funding this vital service. Together, we’ve made a difference, and we will continue to advocate for the essential services that support our community. We hope our fight has hopefully empowered other IDVA’s to stand up for their rights.”

The cuts, announced in January, threatened to gut essential domestic violence services in a borough with the second-highest level of domestic abuse cases in London. IDVAs are more than just support workers; they save lives. They provide emotional support, risk assessments, and advocacy with police, social services, and housing authorities, helping survivors navigate immigration restrictions, financial challenges, and legal hurdles.

““Once again, it has been proven that the breakthroughs leading to great victories come from those on the front lines, those who work tirelessly, day in and day out. Victory belongs to those who stand against injustice and unfairness, who believe in the power of collective action to create real, lasting change.,” said Karina Cuji, UVW member and IDVA.

Karina also highlighted the crucial role of solidarity: “We could not have achieved this without the unwavering support of our union, UVW, which fought alongside us, amplified our voices, and ensured we were heard. Nor could we have done it without our sister unions, colleagues in the VAWG sector and all our comadres from the Solace Union, who stood in solidarity when we couldn’t be there ourselves, offering not just practical support but also the moral strength we needed to keep going. Their overwhelming solidarity has been both humbling and inspiring. Together, we have shown that when we stand united, we win. This victory is yet another reminder that real change happens when workers come together as a community”.

This is one of the most inspiring wins for workers in the VAWG charity sector in a generation. It proves that when organised workers stand their ground, they can stop cuts, protect jobs and defend the services that so many people rely on.

UVW members had to overcome significant union-busting tactics from Solace. But they stood firm, and they won.

This victory is not just about saving jobs. It’s about sending a clear message: essential services should never be up for debate. They must be protected, publicly funded, and treated with the respect they deserve.

Today, we celebrate. Tomorrow, we continue the fight for justice, dignity and properly funded services for all.

You can find out all about how the Solace workers fought to save their jobs here >> Workers at Solace Women’s Aid set to strike to save Tower Hamlets’ domestic abuse support services

If you want to fight for your job or better pay, terms and conditions, get in touch >>

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