The cost of living crisis is cause for a considerable and growing concern. Over the past year, the fragile economy recovery from Covid-19 has been negatively affected by the war in Ukraine and subsequently rising costs and inflationary pressures.

The Scottish Women’s Budget Group and the Poverty Alliance have identified the disproportionate impact of the cost of living crisis on women due to existing inequalities across all areas of life. According to them, women are more likely to be ‘living in poverty, have lower levels of savings and wealth and are less able to increase paid work than men due to caring responsibilities’.

The recent Scottish Government report concluded that certain groups will bear heavier financial burden of a cost crisis. These include disabled people, lone parent families, minority ethnic households, people with no recourse to public funds, and individuals with multiple complex needs. It recognised that those belonging to multiple groups will experience compound negative outcomes.

To highlight gendered inequalities and intersecting forms of discrimination – and consider how they are exacerbated by a cost of living crisis – the Women’s Support Project will be hosting a free webinar which will take place on Wednesday 1 February 2023 10 am – 12.30 pm. The event will explore risks to women’s livelihoods and safety, the role of systems – such as no recourse to public funds – the impact on mental and physical wellbeing, and accessibility of services.

Agenda

The event will offer a mix of presentations and speaker inputs along with the opportunity for attendees to participate through group activities. It will cover:

• An overview of the needs of women, with a particular focus on women experiencing, or at risk of, commercial sexual exploitation, and on migrant, refugee and asylum-seeking women, informed by our ‘Rights & Choices’ service.

• An overview of the impact on women's services, including their accessibility and the staff wellbeing.

Who can attend?

This event is aimed at practitioners delivering services in the public and third sectors. It may be of particular interest to those working in the sectors of violence against women and girls; black, minority ethnic, asylum seeker, refugee and migrant support organisations; mental health; sexual health and relationships; addictions; housing; advice and support; criminal justice; public health; and social work.

Please note that the Women’s Support Project follows the Scottish Government’s approach to commercial sexual exploitation as a form of gender-based violence. The event will address women’s experiences from this perspective.

Accessing the event

This online event will take place over Zoom Webinar. If we can do anything to make it easier for you to access it, please let us know.

Can’t attend?

This event will be recorded. You can request a copy of the recording and resources shared during the session by emailing us at enquiries@womenssupportproject.org.uk

At the edge – women, vulnerabilities, and the cost of living crisis