Women’s Centres: An Essential Part of the Government’s Early intervention Infrastructure

The briefing was previewed at an event at the Labour Party Conference with Jake Richards MP, Youth Justice Minister, and Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester Kate Green, recently appointed as the Government’s Expert Advisor on Youth Justice Devolution.

As devolution progresses and the Government aims to shift from crisis to prevention, halve violence against women and girls (VAWG) within a decade, and give every child the best start in life, women’s centres are well-placed to support these goals.

Based within local communities, they provide safe, trusted and women-only spaces where women and girls can access holistic, trauma-informed support – spotting needs earlier and helping connect them to services like the NHS. They help women, including mothers who are facing multiple and overlapping challenges, such as domestic abuse, poor mental health, financial insecurity, housing problems, substance use and contact with the criminal justice system.

Yet despite their vital role in local communities, women’s centres remain poorly funded and unevenly distributed across the country. Too often, their contribution is viewed primarily through a criminal justice lens, rather than as part of the wider system of prevention, family support and early intervention.

There is an opportunity to change this.

Connecting support for women, children and families
Women’s centres should be better connected to the Government’s emerging early intervention infrastructure, including Family Hubs, Young Futures Hubs, Families First and neighbourhood-based services. Stronger local partnerships would help women access joined-up support without having to navigate multiple services or repeatedly retell their experiences.

For girls, young women and mothers with complex needs, services are rarely joined up and often difficult to navigate. Women’s centres offer a different approach by building trusted relationships in a safe space with specialists who understand the challenges in women’s lives, and connecting them with the right support at the right time.

The Government’s devolution agenda presents an opportunity to strengthen this approach, with strategic authorities and mayors bringing together women’s centres, health services, schools, social care, Family Hubs and other local partners around shared priorities.

Reaching women before crisis point
Evidence highlighted in the briefing shows that women’s centres can improve outcomes for women and children while reducing demand on public services. Analysis has estimated that a Women’s Centre receiving £1 million annually can support more than 650 women and generate around £2.75 million in wider socio-economic benefits.

There is also a strong case for recognising the contribution women’s centres can make to children and families. Many women who use women’s centres are mothers, meaning that support with mental health, domestic abuse, housing, finances and parenting can contribute to safer and more stable environments for children.

A call for long-term investment and action
The briefing sets out six recommendations for Government, including:

1. Recognise women’s centres as essential early intervention infrastructure
2. Use devolution to strengthen early intervention for women and girls
3. Develop a cross-departmental strategy for girls and young women, recognising women’s centres as a core delivery mechanism for reaching vulnerable girls and young women
4. Establish cross-government funding and accountability
5. Invest in a sustainable national network of women’s centres
6. Improve support for care-experienced girls and young women

Women’s centres are already providing trusted, holistic, and preventative support in the community. The opportunity now, as devolution progresses and more power moves into the hands of local areas, is to recognise their role, connect them more effectively into local systems, and give them the sustainable investment needed to reach more women and girls before problems escalate into crisis.