Jubilation for Southall Black Sisters as Ealing Council concedes.
In dramatic scenes at the High Court last Friday, Ealing Council admitted defeat, leaving Southall Black Sisters celebrating. Southall Black Sisters have been locked in a struggle against Ealing Council over its decision to withdraw funding for their domestic violence services for black and minority ethnic women. A number of their service users brought the case against the council. The judge who heard the case is due to issue a ruling, which should provide guidance on funding for specialist services like those provided by Southall Black Sisters.
Members of Women's Resource Centre staff observed the case over both days. We hope that when the judgement is handed down it will provide clearer guidance for funders about how they should engage with the women's sector, and that this will lead to better practices. We are also pleased to see women's organisations challenging funders on their poor decision-making processes and hope that this case encourages others to challenge bad practice.
During the case, the presiding judge, Lord Justice Moses said:
"There is no dichotomy between funding specialist services and cohesion; equality is necessary for cohesion to be achieved."