Report launch: Triple Whammy – the impact of local government cuts on women

Event Date: Thursday 7th March 2019

Diskus Suite, Unite the Union, Unite House, 128 Theobald's Road, Holborn, London WC1X 8TN

AusterityLocal Government

Join the Women’s Budget Group as we launch our new briefing on the impact of cuts to local government funding on women

Date: Thursday 7 March 2019

Time: 6.00 – 7.30 pm

Location: Diskus Suite, Unite the Union, Unite House, 128 Theobald’s Road, Holborn, London WC1X 8TN

 Speakers include:

  • Heather Wakefield – report author and former Head of Local Government at UNISON
  • Mary-Ann Stephenson – UK Women’s Budget Group
  • Diana Holland – Unite
  • Andrew Gwynne MP – Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
  • LGA speakers and others tbc

Local Government is in crisis.

  • Central government funding for local government fell by nearly 50% between 2010/11 and 2017/18 and will fall by over 56% by 2019/20.
  • Between 2010 and 2020 £16 billion will have been cut from local council’s budgets and the gap is set to grow.
  • These cuts have had a devastating impact on local services. Spending on adult social care fell between 2010/11 and 2016/17, despite an increase of over 14% in the number of people aged over 65 in need of it. 1.4 million people currently need but do not receive social care.
  • Spending on other services fell by a third.
  • More than 75% of England’s local authorities slashed their spending on domestic violence refuges – by nearly a quarter (24%) – between 2010 and 2017
  • These cuts represent a triple whammy for women: local government is responsible for many of the services on which women disproportionately depend; when services are cut many women have to increase their unpaid work to fill the gaps and women are disproportionately likely to work in local authorities and schools, so hit harder when jobs are cut.
  • In the last year there have been two reports from UN experts highlighting the devastating impact austerity is having on women’s human rights.

In advance of the 2019 Spending Review the government needs to take urgent action to address this crisis.

Join us as we share the findings of our new report and discuss the impact of cuts to local government budgets on services and the lives of women.

Attendance is free but booking is required. Visit our eventbrite page to register for a place. 

If you have any questions about the event please email emma.williams@wbg.org.uk