Cutbacks warning

The TUC is warning that there could be serious repercussions for the victims of discrimination as a result of the cutbacks to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).

In a letter to the home secretary, Theresa May, the TUC explains how the reduced funding has led to fewer staff, reduced grants for charities and voluntary groups providing discrimination advice and casework, as well as the closure of the EHRC’s specialised helpline and regional offices. These cuts could all lead to the depletion of advice and support for victims of discrimination.

The TUC believes that these cutbacks are particularly damaging as they come on top of big cuts to local authority-funded support to advice centres across the UK, including Citizens Advice Bureaux and a number of domestic violence charities.