SBS is currently facing the threat of closure as a result of Ealing Council’s decision to withdraw our funding as of April 2008.
This is happening in spite of overwhelming local support for keeping council funding for this unique service (Ealing Times newspaper poll), and in the face of current Tory policy.
The local authority’s decision is based on the view that there is no need for specialist services for black and minority women and that services to abused women in the borough need to be streamlined. This view fails to take account of the unequal social, economic and cultural context which makes it difficult, if not impossible, for black and minority women to access outside help or seek information about their rights.
