Glasgow rape crisis centre pulls out of charity network over single-sex approach row

A rape crisis centre has pulled out of the charity's national network, saying its own approach of providing "single-sex services delivered by an all-female workforce" now puts it "at odds" with Rape Crisis Scotland.

Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis (GCRC) announced it will no longer be part of the Rape Crisis Scotland (RCS) network, and instead become an independent operator which will "work productively and collaboratively with our sister rape crisis centres".

A spokeswoman for the GCRC board said the decision came after talks with leaders at Rape Crisis Scotland about "concerns" it had about the "direction and focus" of the organisation overall.

The spokeswoman stressed: "This is not a decision we have taken lightly. We have done so to hold fast to our principles and to best serve the women and girls that need our support.

"We were created to provide support by and for women. We believe, and women have consistently told us, that single-sex services delivered by an all-female workforce are crucial to help them heal from sexual trauma.

"This approach remains our priority but is at odds with RCS's."

It comes in the wake of a report criticising Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre's failure to provide women-only spaces as "a significant breach" of the national standards all rape crisis centres have to follow.

Mridul Wadhwa, a trans woman, resigned as chief executive of the Edinburgh centre following the report.

Just weeks after her resignation, GCRC said it believes its best interests - and those of the women it aims to help - will be "best served and represented outwith membership of RCS".

The GCRC board spokeswoman said it has been involved in "dialogue with the leadership of RCS to address our concerns, and those of GCRC's management team, regarding the direction and focus of the network under its stewardship".

She said: "After careful consideration, we have concluded that the interests of our organisation, and those that rely on our services, will be best served and represented outwith membership of RCS.

"As an independent operator, we will continue to work productively and collaboratively with our sister rape crisis centres."

GCRC said every year it supports almost a third (30%) of the rape survivors receiving help from the Scottish rape crisis network, with some 2,500 women and girls helped annually.

Rape Crisis Scotland said: "Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis provides crucial services for survivors, and we wish them and their team well.

"Our member centres deliver services in a variety of ways, tailored to the needs of the communities they serve.

"What is fundamental across all rape crisis services is that survivors' needs are at the centre of their provision."

A Rape Crisis Scotland spokesperson says:

“Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis provides crucial services for survivors, and we wish them and their team well."

“Our member centres deliver services in a variety of ways, tailored to the needs of the communities they serve.

"What is fundamental across all Rape Crisis Services is that survivors’ needs are at the centre of their provision."

“All Rape Crisis Centres must provide women only spaces within their service but how they define this is currently for individual centres to decide. Rape Crisis Centres can provide single sex spaces within Rape Crisis Scotland – and many do."

“The independent review of Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre, published last month, recommended that Rape Crisis Scotland facilitate a shared approach across centres. This work is underway.”