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11.06.2025 / News / Solace

Crisis at Solace Women’s Aid: Barnet and Tower Hamlets Support Workers set to strike

“We are calling for a healthier work environment—for ourselves and for the survivors we support—and a real say at work through our union, UVW.”

Domestic violence advisors at Solace Women’s Aid charity in Barnet have opened a strike ballot in response to unmanageable workloads and chronic understaffing. Meanwhile, their counterparts in Tower Hamlets are also poised to strike, with a separate ballot still live, following the charity’s backtracking on a promise to voluntarily recognise their union. Both groups are members of United Voices of the World (UVW). The dispute now spans two critical Solace teams in the UK’s fight against domestic violence.

Workers stress that the lack of union recognition and dangerously high caseloads not only endangers staff welfare but also undermines the quality of care for survivors, with frontline staff denied a voice in decisions affecting their wellbeing. Solace’s refusal to follow through on a previously agreed voluntary recognition request at the Tower Hamlets branch has shocked and disheartened workers. They say the charity has reneged on a prior agreement to recognise UVW, made during a dispute in Tower Hamlets earlier this year, which saw workers vote to take indefinite strike action.

This is the second strike ballot Solace has faced in the last year—highly unusual in the VAWG (Violence Against Women and Girls) sector, where industrial action is incredibly rare. It follows months of efforts to resolve concerns informally and through last-minute, facilitated talks.

Despite entering negotiations in good faith, supported by ACAS, workers say they were met with evasive responses and a refusal to honour commitments made during the previous dispute.

A Tower Hamlets Solace worker, who wishes to remain anonymous, said:“Our dispute earlier this year helped save both jobs and a vital service in Tower Hamlets. It took the threat of indefinite strike action for Solace to step up—securing the funding and agreeing to recognise our union, UVW. Now they’ve gone back on that, and it feels like a complete betrayal. Every day, we advocate for the voices of women and survivors of domestic abuse—yet we’re being told we don’t deserve a voice at work ourselves. We’re gutted to be forced into another dispute, but if Solace won’t honour agreements, what choice do we have as workers other than to strike?”

Barnet workers added: “This is not just about one worker, but what appears to be a broader pattern of neglect impacting the entire team. Many of us are expected to meet unrealistic service standards and work under intense pressure, which is taking a toll on our wellbeing. Staff often feel unsupported, and there are serious concerns about the lack of a psychologically informed management approach. In our view, management has not adequately addressed these issues or acknowledged the time-consuming nature of our additional duties. We are calling for a healthier work environment—for ourselves and for the survivors we support—and a real say at work through our union, UVW.”

UVW notes with concern that many workers feel unable to speak openly, raising serious questions about the working environment at Solace.

Members of UVW—who advocate daily for the voices of the victims of domestic —are calling for:

• Reduced caseloads
• Recruitment of additional staff
• Voluntary recognition of their union

Support the workers. Updates to follow.

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