Gender equality charity Chwarae Teg closure 'terrible news'

Chwarae Teg have worked to get women's equality spoken about in policy making

The closure of a leading gender equality charity was described as "terrible news" for women across Wales.

Chwarae Teg said a "perfect storm" of funding challenges, including the impending loss of European Union cash was behind the move.

Julie Richards, a trustee of another women's charity, said it was a shock.

The organisation was founded in 1992 and, since 2019, it has published an annual report tracking progress towards gender equality in Wales.

Ms Richards, of Fair Treatment for the Women of Wales, said Chwarae Teg played a "crucial role".

• Women in Wales decades away from equality

• Women outnumbered in public roles

"This has come as a great shock to us and to women across Wales and is frankly terrible news for charities that campaign for gender equality," she said on BBC Radio Cymru's Dros Frecwast programme.

"They have done a lot, especially for women in the workplace... building skills, building confidence.

"They were looking at policies and speaking up about gender equality. A crucial role in all aspects of the lives of women in Wales."

Ms Richards added it was "a big blow to how policies are going to be scrutinised after the charity is gone".

Julie Richards said the news came as a shock

In announcing the decision, the charity's Sharon Williams said: "Despite all the efforts of the recently appointed new leadership team, a perfect storm of financial challenges has left no other choice.

"The staff have been informed of the situation as it develops and collectively, they are now in the middle of a redundancy consultation."

Over the past 30 years, it has campaigned on a wide variety of issues.

In February, the charity said Wales was decades away from achieving equality - it said despite a slight increase for women since 2019, the pay gap remains at 11.3%.

It also said that gender quotas must be introduced by the next Senedd election in 2026.

Last year, then chief executive Cerys Furlong said better female representation should be "absolutely core" to plans to increase the number of members from 60 to 96.

'Fairer Wales'

"If the point of the change is to expand the Senedd to enable better scrutiny then that scrutiny is not going to happen by failing to address the lack of diversity," she said.

"So, it's absolutely core to the expansion of the Senedd that we get those quotas in place and that that is not an afterthought as it is , unfortunately, too often."

The charity also recently reported that women over 50 face multiple forms of discrimination in the workplace.

Their report, published in February, found women faced issues such as a "pension pay gap" and a lack of understanding of menopause symptoms.

Chwarae Teg's website said it has "been working to ensure that women in Wales can enter the workplace, develop their skills and build rewarding careers".

It also said it aimed to create "a fairer Wales" where women were able to prosper and be influential at all levels of the "economy, society and public life", while empowering them to "achieve their potential, regardless of their background, social status, or geographic location".

Plaid Cymru social justice and equalities Sioned Williams spokesperson described the charity's closure as "deeply concerning news - for the staff especially - but also because of the invaluable and important research, policy and practical work Chwarae Teg has done to promote gender equality in Wales".

"Urgent work is needed by Welsh government to assess the gap that will be left in terms of an authority on the best practice in improving equality in Wales, and any impact on women currently being supported by this charity, including those undertaking qualifications," she said.