Leon earlier pointed out that a rally is taking place tomorrow in Ealing in protest at the Council’s decision to pull vital funding from Southall Black Sisters. I’ll be there too, lending my support.

Here’s an example letter you can send in protest at Ealing Council’s decision:

Jason Stacey
Leader of Ealing Council
Ealing Town Hall
Uxbridge Road
Ealing
W5 2BY
Jason.Stacey@ealing.gov.uk

Date

Dear Jason Stacey,

We are writing to you to express our concern at Ealing Council’s decision to withdraw funding from Southall Black Sisters, a flagship organisation that has brought credit to your borough through its extremely valuable work locally, nationally and internationally.

Over the years, SBS has provided a much-needed service to local black and minority women. Its work has been vital in bringing about much needed change to policy and good practice on a range of issues from domestic violence to honour killings and forced marriage. It has also served the borough well by organising services for minority women across religious, caste and ethnic lines – a central aim of your cohesion strategy. Given the Council’s record of support for the organisation for the last 29 years, this must have been a view shared by the Council itself.

As you are aware, black and minority women constitute one of the most vulnerable groups in society. Recent national reports confirm that in addition to the problems that all women encounter in exiting from an abusive relationship, black and minority women face additional barriers to accessing advice and support. Consequently they are in need of targeted specialist support.

You will also be aware that SBS raises additional funding from a variety of sources in order to continue to provide a comprehensive and high quality service to minority women. It seems entirely unreasonable then to expect the group to provide a service to all women from the same pot of money, which had not adequately met the needs of minority women.

We are concerned that you decision to withdraw the organisation’s funding appears not to be not based on any proper assessment of the needs of black and minority women or the impact that the closure of SBS will have on them.

We therefore urge you to consider your new domestic violence policy and continue your support for this important organisation.

Yours sincerely,

——

SAVE SBS PICKET
26th February 2008
6pm to 7pm
Outside EALING TOWN HALL

7pm onwards we need to pack out public gallery in the Liz Cantell Room
(Ealing Town Hall) on the Ground Floor to support Southall Black Sisters

Ealing Town Hall, Uxbridge Road, Ealing W5 2BY

Bus: 65, 83, 207, 297, 607, 112, E1, E2, 37, E8, E9, E10, N23, N2
British Rail & Underground – Ealing Broadway

Other transport: nearest major roads, A406, M4, M40, M25
Parking at rear after 5pm Mon-Fri. A Small charge applies between 8am and 6pm at weekends. Large multi-storey car parks within a five-minute walk at Springbridge Road and Ealing Broadway Centre.