Petition launched in plea to Highland Council to save Inverness women's refuge
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An online petition has been launched in a bid to save Inverness women's refuge from closing amid fears such a move will put lives at risk.
It follows revelations by the Strathy's sister title the Inverness Courier that Inverness Women's Aid is planning to close the city's 12-flat refuge and provide outreach support from a new office which would help women to obtain safe accommodation in the community.
But the proposal – which would leave a six-flat refuge in Dingwall to serve the entire Highlands – has sparked concerns including others within the women's aid network.
A petition has been launched calling on Highland Council to intervene.
Related stories:
- Fears for Highland women fleeing domestic abuse
- Refuge service in city no longer being provided says council
- Inverness Women's Aid corrects misinformation following backlash
It is understood talks were set to take place today between representatives of the council and women's aid.
The petition states the decision to close the Inverness refuge in July is against the best practice model of Scottish Women's Aid and other domestic abuse charities nationally and will put women's lives at risk.
"Highland housing cannot safely house domestic abuse victims in temporary accommodation in a time-frame that is acceptable, and due to shortage of accommodation is not able to guarantee the same level of safety and support that women receive in refuge," it states.
"This is a protected human right (under the Istanbul convention)."
It continues: "The decision to close Inverness refuge is a backward step and will reduce domestic abuse services across the Highlands.
"We must prevent Inverness from downsizing vital services for women and children experiencing domestic abuse.
"We must fight to keep the refuge open for women and children across the Highlands, it is a safety net and a life-saving facility for so many."
Supporters signing the petition have added their comments, appealing for the refuge to remain open.
One woman said: "This is an essential place for women in need in a world where services are being streamlined to the point of not being able to adequately help those that they were set up yon help in the first place.
"Inverness is our only city in the Highlands and I would say it is imperative that it offers a suitable refuge for women in need."
Another woman believed women and children would be at risk if the refuge closed.
"I think it's a down-grading of services in the Highlands offering support for women experiencing domestic abuse and that vulnerable women will potentially be put at risk and need to wait longer to find safe and suitable accommodation," she said.
Another reflected: "I would love for their to be no need for an Inverness Women's Refuge. Everything I read suggests that this is about trying to spread an already too thin budget further to the detriment of all.
"Please rethink. We need to be opening our arms in times of need not closing them."
Councillor David Fraser, chairman of Highland Council's health, social care and wellbeing committee, said talks were ongoing.
"We are working very hard to ensure there is a solution," he said.
"There are ongoing talks with a number of women's aid groups including Inverness, Ross-shire and Scottish Women's Aid.
"We need to get the right solution which is sustainable.
"The safety of women is paramount."
The petition can be found at www.change.org/p/save-inverness-refuge-from-closure.
