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22.01.2025 / News / Solace

Solace Women’s Aid workers set to strike to save Tower Hamlets’ domestic abuse support services

“Domestic abuse, violence against women, and girls is a national emergency. The staff at Solace Women’s Aid do amazing work.” A Solace worker and UVW member

Independent domestic violence advisers from Solace Women’s Aid in Tower Hamlets, who are members of United Voices of the World (UVW), are balloting to strike over significant and imminent redundancies, jeopardising the critical support services provided to vulnerable residents, especially women, across the borough. The proposed redundancies will cut the team by a third.

Tower Hamlets ranks second-highest in London for domestic abuse cases, almost 70% of the victims of which are female, with one in three women and girls experiencing gender based violence in their lifetime. Between April and December 2024 alone, the Solace team managed 1,339 referrals and supported 519 victim-survivors. The proposed staff reductions could leave countless individuals without essential, life-saving support during their most vulnerable times.

One of the Solace workers and UVW members, who wishes to speak anonymously, said: “Considering the risks of domestic violence in Tower Hamlets, cutting by a third is just going to be a massive hit to the community. We support a lot of people for whom we are their last hope, so I think it will have a massive effect. I don’t think the people making these decisions realise the gravity of the effect it will have. Domestic violence rates haven’t dropped by a third to validate cutting our team by a third. Somebody’s going to be taking the brunt of this.”

Solace workers are calling on Tower Hamlets Council to intervene and safeguard these crucial services. Backed by UVW, who has previously been in dispute with Solace, the workers are determined to fight these job cuts and continue their vital work for the community.

Another Solace worker and UVW member said: “Domestic abuse, violence against women, and girls is a national emergency. The staff at Solace Women’s Aid do amazing work. We support so many people when they have nowhere to go, and we do this every day. I also want other charity workers to know they deserve to feel supported. It can be an isolating and difficult job.”

The Solace workers 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.

Tower Hamlets is also the most densely populated borough in England and at 34.6% the largest Bangladeshi population in England and Wales and has the second-highest proportion of children living in absolute low-income families in London, following the City of London.

Isabel Cortes, assistant general secretary for UVW, said: “Tower Hamlets cannot turn its back on survivors of domestic abuse. Cutting this team by a third is not just a funding decision, it’s a death sentence for countless women and families who rely on these life-saving services. Domestic abuse is a national emergency, and Tower Hamlets council has a duty to safeguard those most at risk. The Solace workers are a lifeline for survivors. Their work saves lives.”

The Solace team urges the public to support their campaign to protect these indispensable services to the local community.

TOWER HAMLETS SOLACE WOMEN’S AID TEAM IN NUMBERS 👇

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