07.02.2025 / Press releases / Solace

Hundreds rally to save vital domestic abuse support services in Tower Hamlets

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE : 7 February 2025

HUNDREDS RALLY TO SAVE VITAL DOMESTIC ABUSE SUPPORT SERVICES IN TOWER HAMLETS

•    On 6th February hundreds of people gathered outside Tower Hamlets Town Hall including MPs, councillors, trade unionists and members of the community to demand no cuts to crucial domestic violence support services delivered by Solace Women’s Aid 

• Solace Women’s Aid has said the proposed redundancies of a third of its Independent Domestic Violence Advisors in Tower Hamlets is due to cuts in council funding. But Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, Councillor Abu Talha Chowdhury, confirmed at the rally there had been no cuts as alleged by Solace

• The workers who at risk of redundancy, are members of the trade union United Voices of the World and have voted to take indefinite strike action, which is the first time this has ever happened in the women’s/ VAWG sector.

• UVW urges Solace Women’s Aid to pause the redundancy process to find a resolution to this dispute that guarantees no cuts in jobs or services and Solace recognises UVW as the union of choice of its employees. 

Hundreds of people gathered outside Tower Hamlets Town Hall last night in a powerful rally to protest against devastating cuts to domestic abuse support services. The protest saw widespread support from Sisters Uncut, trade unionists, an MP, councillors, and members of the local community, all standing in solidarity with UVW members, the Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs) at Solace Women’s Aid, who have voted unanimously to take indefinite strike action from 14 February 2025.

This landmark industrial action marks the first time in history that IDVAs have gone on strike, in response to looming redundancies and severe funding cuts that threaten to strip away essential support from some of London’s most vulnerable communities. On the steps of the Town Hall, UVW members, the IDVAs at Solace, spoke passionately about their fight to protect the survivors who rely on these services, emphasising the critical need for proper funding.

Among those addressing the rally were Avaiah Day (Sisters Uncut), Isabel Cortés (UVW Assistant General Secretary), Councillor Maisha Begum, Alexa Waud (Solace worker and organiser), and Apsana Begum MP. Many speakers were themselves survivors of domestic violence, including Apsana Begum MP, and their support in preserving these indispensable services is invaluable.

The protest was the result of a rapidly growing campaign, with United Voices of the World (UVW) members mobilising community support and taking decisive action to urge Solace management and Tower Hamlets council to urgently meet with them for talks to resolve the crisis.

Their efforts led to Councillor Abu Talha Chowdhury, Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, addressing the demonstrators on the steps of the Town Hall to provide an update on the council’s position regarding the proposed cuts

Councillor Abu Talha Chowdhury, Cabinet Member for Safer Communities said:

“Council officials and representatives from the Mayor’s Office met with the union, UVW, and independent domestic violence advisers (IDVAs) to discuss redundancies being proposed by Solace. The union recognised that the Council has not cut funding and that the Council is not a decision-maker over Solace’s internal structures and staffing, which is an independent organisation contracted by the Council to provide specialist support to victims of domestic abuse.

Tackling the scourge of domestic violence is a priority for the Mayor, which is why we have significantly increased funding for domestic violence services and education and awareness initiatives in the community. We are concerned about the impact that workers and the union warn Solace’s proposed staffing changes would have on the service, and we acknowledge the IDVA’s care, professionalism and concern for service users.

We commissioned Solace to provide domestic violence support and it is not acceptable that a situation has been allowed to develop which will see this vital service disrupted. We urge Solace to pause the redundancy process to allow for discussions between the Council, UVW, its members and Solace to find a resolution. We also call on Solace to recognise UVW and for workers to be involved in discussions moving forward.”

Tamara Topchiashvili, Hospital Independent Domestic Violence Advisors said:

“It was inspiring and encouraging to be at the rally yesterday. The support of the council, MP Apsana Begum and Sister’s Uncut was encouraging and we felt listened to.  I felt no longer afraid to speak up and that’s because of the support that we received.”

Isabel Cortés, UVW assistant General secretary said:

“This is a fight for the future of domestic abuse support in Tower Hamlets. The council has confirmed it has not cut funding and therefore is not behind the redundancies being proposed by Solace, and that this instead appears to be a result of mismanagement by Solace. With IDVAs now set to strike indefinitely, all eyes are on Solace to find a way forward. Yesterday we saw the community in action, it is clear they remain steadfast in their demand: no more cuts to life-saving domestic abuse support. So we urge Solace once more, now with the backing of the council, to pause the redundancy process to allow for discussions to take place between the council, our members and Solace to find a resolution to ensure; domestic violence services in Tower Hamlets are not reduced, jobs are not lost, permanent contracts are issued and UVW is recognised as the union of choice.”

ENDS

For more information contact the UVW comms team.

Isabel: 07706 987443

Cristina: 07548 759340

E-mail: comms@uvwunion.org.uk   

Notes for editors

United Voices of the World is an anti-racist, member-led, direct action, campaigning trade union and we exist to support and empower the most vulnerable groups of precarious, low-paid and predominantly BAME and migrant workers in the UK. We fight the bosses through direct action on the streets and through the courts and demand that all members receive at least the London Living Wage, full pay, sick pay, dignity, equality and respect.

For more on the Solace worker’s fight to save their jobs:

UVW statement on Solace Women’s Aid dispute
Domestic abuse workers call rally on 6 February outside Tower Hamlets’ Town Hall to save service threatened by cuts.

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

Solace women’s aid workers fight to save domestic abuse support services in Tower Hamlets

SHARE