Single Sex Service Policy
1. Introduction
The Women’s Support Project (WSP) works to end violence against women. Based in Glasgow, we work across Scotland to raise awareness of the root causes, extent, and impact of male violence and for improved services for those affected.
Key themes are addressing unmet need and emerging issues, making links between different forms of violence and abuse, and supporting multiagency and partnership approaches. Our work is informed by an understanding of links and overlaps between different forms of violence, discrimination, and oppression.
This policy does not form part of any contract of employment, and we may amend it at any time.
2. Principles
WSP is committed to working within a feminist, secular, human rights-based ethos, including providing services to women, by women, from a women led organisation. WSP recognises that in relation to violence, abuse and exploitation, women and girls are disproportionately victims and men are predominantly perpetrators.
To achieve equality in practice, different groups may require different treatment because they are differently situated in an unequal society. Equal treatment, without consideration of people’s different characteristics and structural inequality, can perpetuate disadvantage.
WSP believes that a women led, women only organisation is best placed to provide services to support women who have experienced men’s violence. (See section 8, below, for research on women’s preferences for single sex services).
WSP’s policies and procedures operate within the law. (Ref. 1)
3. Terminology
This policy uses the following definitions:
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A woman is a biological woman or girl
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A survivor refers to someone who has experienced violence, abuse, or exploitation
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Sex is the biological group into which a person is born
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Gender is the set of rules, norms, and behaviours into which we are socialised. Characteristics, behaviours and ‘choices’ usually attributed to femininity and masculinity are socially constructed, hierarchised, and enforced
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Gender identity is the idea that people have an innate or constructed sense of their gender which may or may not correspond with their sex
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Trans is an umbrella term for people who feel that their gender identity conflicts with their sex. It includes people who have undergone medical procedures to change their bodies and those who have not, and people who have a Gender Recognition Certificate and those who have not
4. Roles and responsibilities
The board of directors is responsible for setting this policy and for ensuring that it is regularly reviewed.
The manager is responsible for the implementation of the policy and for ensuring that employees are inducted into the policy and that complaints within the service are dealt with according to this policy.
All employees and directors are responsible for ensuring that their conduct and work upholds the principles of this policy.
5. WSP - areas of work
National Capacity Building
WSP’s national strategic and capacity building work includes advising on policy and guidance, developing resources, and providing training and other learning
opportunities. We work with policy makers, service managers, practitioners, training officers and others, from a range of services, organisations, networks, and partnerships. We will work with any organisation and their staff to take this forward.
Research, engagement, and consultation
From time-to-time we may undertake research, engagement, or consultations, for example with survivors of abuse, or community-based consultation. On occasion this work may be undertaken on a single sex basis, taking into account the issue addressed and the views of those impacted, and other relevant factors.
Requests for support and information
WSP is not currently funded to provide a helpline or ongoing support service for
women survivors or those at risk. We respond to requests for support and information, e.g., at training or events, or via email or phone call. This can include support requests from survivors of violence, in which case we provide support at the point of contact, irrespective of sex or any other characteristic, and respond by providing information and/or referring or signposting as appropriate.
All members of staff may be the first point of contact for survivors seeking support, e.g. through providing office cover, or at training and events.
6. Single sex service provision
The purpose of this policy is to outline the principles underpinning WSP’s commitment to the provision of single sex, women only services in some areas of our work. These services are offered in line with the Equality Act (2010), Schedule 3, Paragraph 27 (4):
a) “A joint service for persons of both sexes would be less effective”, and:
b) “The extent to which the service is required by persons of each sex make it not reasonably practicable to provide separate services”
and Schedule 3, Paragraph 27 (6):
a) “The service is provided for, or is likely to be used by, two or more persons at the same time”
b) “The circumstances are such that a person of one sex might reasonably object to the presence of a person of the opposite sex”.
In addition, Schedule 3, Paragraph 28 (1) provides that there is no discrimination by a service provider so far as related to gender reassignment by the provision of services for persons of one sex only if the targeted provision of services is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.
WSP believes its approach is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim, namely providing targeted support to service users who most need it whilst preventing the potential distress by the presence, or involvement, of a person who is biologically male. Based on these provisions, WSP considers that its decision to exclude males and those who identify as trans and non-binary from accessing some aspects of our work does not contravene anti-discrimination legislation.
7. Recruitment and selection
Schedule 9 of the Equality Act (2010) contains several exceptions that allow direct discrimination in certain circumstances to be deemed lawful. In particular there are circumstances where it is lawful to require a person from a particular protected characteristic (e.g., a person of a particular sex) to do a particular job. In order to be lawful, the particular characteristic must be an occupational requirement and a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.
As WSP believes that a women led, women only organisation is best placed to provide services to support women who have experienced men’s violence, and this is supported by independent research (see 8, below), we have assessed our posts and will apply a genuine occupational qualification to these. As per schedule 9 of the Equality Act (2010), WSP considers that this does not contravene anti discriminatory legislation and is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.
WSP acknowledges that a person who identifies as trans may apply for a post and may be offered and take up employment with the organisation without their transgender status being noted. We also acknowledge that there is no obligation for a person who identifies as transgender to disclose their status as a condition of employment. If a person chooses not to disclose at recruitment or after, and this is later discovered, WSP will decide whether it is appropriate to instigate probation or dismissal proceedings given its legitimate aim noted above.
Any applicant who considers that they have been inequitably treated within the scope of this policy, may make a written complaint, which, as per the complaints procedure, will be investigated. A written response will be given to the complainant.
8. Research on women’s preferences for single sex services
Research on the provision of services for women who have experienced sexual violence, abuse, and exploitation, consistently finds that women’s needs are best met by women only organisations, and in women only spaces.
General Recommendation 19 of The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Violence Against Women (CEDAW), highlights that violence against women “is a form of discrimination that seriously inhibits women’s ability to enjoy rights and freedoms on a basis of equality with men.” And that gender-based violence, which impairs or nullifies the enjoyment by women of human rights and fundamental freedoms under general international law, or under human rights conventions, is discrimination. WSP commit to aligning ourselves to the principles of CEDAW in the work we do within the organisation.
WSP believes, therefore, that the provision of services to women survivors of sexual violence, abuse and exploitation, by women, from a women led organisation, is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.
Research by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (2012) (Ref. 2), showed that 95% of women using women’s services preferred to receive them from a women only organisation.
A study by the University of Suffolk (2015) (Ref. 3) showed that survivors of childhood sexual abuse felt most believed by Independent Sexual Violence Advisors and rated the services provided by independent, specialist, women run organisations, highest.
Research by the Women’s National Commission on women only services (2010) (Ref. 4) found that:
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99% of the respondents believed that it was important for a woman who has been sexually assaulted or has experienced any other form of violence, to have the choice to access a women only support service
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Women respondents said they wanted women only services for the following reasons, “safety, empathy, trust, comfort, support, less intimidating, focus on women’s needs, shared identity, expertise, confidence, access, rapport, long term care.”
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79% of women said that there is still a need for independent women’s organisations even if mixed organisations and statutory bodies also provide single sex spaces.
Women may want women only spaces and services for religious or cultural reasons. See for example ‘A conversation with Muslim women’ by Shonagh Dillon. (Ref. 5)
‘Why Women?’ a report by the Women’s Resource Centre (2007) (Ref. 6) identifies safety, both physical and emotional, as a key benefit of women only services. The report found that as a result of using women led services, women feel supported and comfortable. They develop confidence, greater independence, and higher self-esteem. They are less marginalised and isolated and feel more able to express themselves.
The Board of the Women's Support Project, July 2025
(Ref. 1)
The Supreme Court ruled that in the Equality Act 2010 (the Act), ‘sex’ means biological sex. This means that, under the Act: A ‘woman’ is a biological woman or girl (a person born female) and A ‘man’ is a biological man or boy (a person born male). This confirms that if single sex services are offered that this should be on the basis of biological sex.
(Ref. 2)
Hirst,A. and Rinne, S. (2012) The Impact of Changes in Commissioning of Women-only Services. Equality and Human Rights Commission. Available at:
(Ref. 3)
Smith, N. et al (2015) Hear Me, Believe Me, Respect Me. University campus Suffolk. Available at:
https://oars.uos.ac.uk/2622/1/Focus-on-Survivors-Final-Copy.pdf
(Ref. 4)
Women’s National Commission (2010) Women-only Services.
(Ref. 5)
‘A conversation with Muslim women’ by Shonagh Dillon.
(Ref. 6)
Women’s Resource Centre (2007) Why Women? Available at
https://www.wrc.org.uk/why-women-only-the-value-and-benefits-of-by-women-for-women-services-2007