A Glasgow rape crisis charity has cut ties with a national Scottish sexual assault network over a dispute about single-sex spaces.

Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis published a statement distancing itself from Rape Crisis Scotland, saying it feels that the charity and the people it supports will be best served outwith the membership body.

A spokesperson for the Glasgow-based charity’s board said: “We were created to provide support by and for women. We believe, and women have consistently told us, that single-sex services delivered by an all-female workforce are crucial to help them heal from sexual trauma. 

“This approach remains our priority but is at odds with RCS.”

But RCS told Third Sector that rape crisis centres that are part of the membership body can provide single-sex spaces, adding that many do. 

RCS has 16 member centres but GCRC said that it supported 30 per cent of all survivors who receive a service from the national rape crisis network.

The spokesperson for the GCRC board said its decision came after it had engaged in dialogue with RCS’ leadership to address its concerns regarding the “direction and focus of the network under its stewardship”.

They said: “This is not a decision we have taken lightly. We have done so to hold fast to our principles and to best serve the women and girls that need our support.”

The spokesperson added that the charity will not change its services and will continue to work collaboratively with its sister rape crisis centres. 

They said that while the relationship between GCRC and RCS is changing, both organisations remain committed to maintaining the current national programmes the Glasgow charity delivers.

A spokesperson for RCS said: “Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis provides crucial services for survivors, and we wish them and their team well.”

They said that RCS member centres deliver services in a variety of ways, tailored to the needs of their communities, adding: “What is fundamental across all Rape Crisis Services is that survivors’ needs are at the centre of their provision.”

The spokesperson said: “All Rape Crisis Centres must provide women-only spaces within their service but how they define this is currently for individual centres to decide.”

But the independent review of Edinburgh Rape Crisis centre, which was published last month, recommended that RCS facilitate a shared approach across its centres, the spokesperson said. They added that the work for this is underway.