'Future is changing' at Swindon Domestic Abuse Support Service
They've lost the refuge centre contract after it was put out to tender earlier this year
The Swindon Domestic Abuse Support Service say the 'future is changing', amid them losing the latest competitive re-tendering process.
The competitive process is held by Swindon Borough Council, who contract out who they want to provide refugee and community services - and we now know that the new provider will start their work from October.
It's also understood that, although the SDASS was unsuccessful in their tender submission, that they won't be needing to close.
In a statement, bosses said: "Earlier this year, we entered a routine competitive retendering process held by Swindon Borough Council for the contract to provide refuge and community services. This is a standard process that we have undertaken before but this time, our tender submission was, unfortunately, unsuccessful.
"The transfer of services is due to take place from October. We hope that this will happen with minimal impact on our staff who will be affected but also importantly, with minimal interruption to the service offered to those living in refuge and receiving support in the community.
"For SDASS, which is formally known as Swindon Women’s Aid, our Board of Trustees, supported by the Senior Management Team, have been reshaping the vision of the charity as a result of the tender decision. We envision a future as leading experts within the areas of domestic abuse prevention, early intervention and perpetrator behaviour change. Whilst the precise details are still being worked on, this is an exciting opportunity for us to expand and develop the areas where our innovative programmes are already making a difference.
"As we finalise our plans, we hope we can continue to count on your support.
'We are satisfied that the process was robust and fair to all bidders'
A Swindon Borough Council spokesperson said: "During the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of our contracts with voluntary sector service providers were extended to focus the effort of council staff and service providers on supporting the community.
“The Swindon Women’s Aid contract had been in place for the maximum period possible, before we were legally required to run a competitive procurement exercise.
“This process gave other organisations the opportunity to bid for the new contract, ensuring that future service provision represents the best quality and value to residents and tax payers.
“The outcome of the procurement is that a new provider, The You Trust, will be providing domestic abuse support in Swindon from 01 October 2024. Having reviewed the process back in July, we are satisfied that the process was robust and fair to all bidders. Swindon Women’s Aid also reviewed this process in July.
“We recognise that this is a disappointing outcome for Swindon Women’s Aid which currently holds the contract, but we’d like to thank them for their hard work and dedication to Swindon and welcome its intention to maintain a role in supporting victims of domestic abuse in the Borough.”