We here at BUST just received word that Lambeth Women’s Project, a U.K. organization that provides dozens of services to over one thousand women each year, is facing “unreasonable eviction” from the space they have occupied in south London since 1979. The 11 groups under LWP offer services including counseling, domestic violence support and sexual health screenings under a model that was designed to “promote diversity” and to “educate and empower.”
LWP still has three years left on the lease of their building, which they currently co-lease with Stockwell Primary School after over 20 years of being the sole organization located there. However, a series of conflicts with Stockwell have led to the unfortunate and unfair decision to give LWP, and all the organizations that are a part of the women’s project, two weeks to remove everything from their offices.
LWP is the only women’s support center in Lambeth. We all know that a great place to seek physical and emotional support and services designed for and run by women is difficult to find, and quotes from a few of the 800+ women who have signed the online petition demonstrate that Lambeth is one such place:
“LWP is a good place to be. All the women there offer great support and advice, helping each other whenever needed. It’s the perfect place to go when you need space or someone to talk to. Plus without funding this place has done quite well to provide some excellent and varied facilities. Closing it down would be a huge loss.”
“We live in a world that celebrates the male hero. LWP is the hero organisation for all women. Let it live and continue to celebrate equality, education and the confidence it enables all women to realise. It is already a centre of education. Who has the right to take that away after 30 years? Education for all….not just a selected few..”
“This safe space and historical project in equality MUST remain.”
The date of eviction is set for this Friday, June 15th, so it’s important to spread the word any way you can as soon as possible! Here’s a short list of what you can do in support of the women at LWP from all the way across the Atlantic:
- Tweet words of support and love (@SaveLWP).
- Like the Lambert Women’s Project Facebook group!
- You can also sign this iPetition here.
- Follow the group’s blog to keep up with the struggle to save LWP.
As for any BUSTies in the London area, there will be nightly pot-bangings of protest from 7 to 8 p.m. outside of the building, located at 166a Stockwell Road.
Here’s to hoping that LWP will bang on for another 30-plus years!
Images courtesy of Ochi Reyes.
