WEST Dunbartonshire Council has apologised for a lack of communication over the withdrawal of financial support for two domestic violence charities.

Clydebank Women's Aid is an organisation which provides various services for women, children and young people who are experiencing or have been the victim of domestic violence.

The charity claimed in a social media post that the local authority was "cutting funding by a quarter" and that the decision was taken earlier this year without informing them.

One commenter said: "Absolute joke, considering all you do for women and children."

Another said: "Tragic".

The organisation also revealed they "had to make the difficult decision to withdraw a vacancy previously advertised" as a result.

Writing on Facebook, they said: "We want to extend our sincerest apologies to those who have taken the time to apply for the role and to those who are in the process of doing so. All candidates who have applied have been notified.

"As always, our priority is providing women, children and young people experiencing domestic abuse with the best possible service."

However, the council insists there has been "no change" to the funding offered to the two domestic violence organisations in the area, with Dumbarton and District Women's Aid also falling under the same umbrella.

They say the relevant groups will "continue to receive £125,000 in 2024/25" and the financial support being removed is a "tenancy sustainment fee of £84,000 that is no longer a priority for tenants".

The local authority did apologise for this not being communicated to the organisations within an "appropriate timeframe", with the decision being taken at a council meeting back in March.

To minimise the impact of the late communications, they have agreed to "maintain the funding until the end of the calendar year", with the charities to receive £63,000 between them.

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A West Dunbartonshire Council spokesperson said: “There has been no change to the funding offered to the two Women’s Aid organisations operating in West Dunbartonshire, with each continuing to receive £125,000 in 2024/25.

“As part of a wider approach to improving tenancy sustainment, we commissioned a service from these organisations at a cost of £84,000 per year.

“A rent consultation identified that this spend was not a priority for tenants so it was subsequently agreed the budget for tenancy sustainment would be removed and the service provided by Women’s Aid would cease.

“We apologise that this decision was not communicated to the organisations within an appropriate timeframe and in order to minimise the impact of this have agreed to maintain the funding until the end of the calendar year.”