SAFE spaces for women must be protected, a housing conference will hear.

Leaders and activists from around Scotland will gather for a one-day conference on the “crisis” in accessing shelter for women.

Held by the Scottish Women’s Convention (SWC), it will include testimony from individuals who have direct experience of problems with housing and homelessness.

The event, set to take place in Glasgow on Saturday, come as the non-party SWC prepares to work with women across the country on the key issues.

The body, led by chair Agnes Tolmie, will look at both urban and rural settings.

Ahead of the event, which will be held at the Hilton Grosvenor Hotel in the city’s West End from 10.30am til 1.30pm, the SWC said: “Lack of social housing, rising rents and welfare reforms have all contributed to a crisis in women’s experiences of access to shelter.

“The event will allow those attending to discuss priorities around housing and homelessness and what needs to be done to bring about meaningful change.”

Veteran campaigner Tolmie said: “The SWC has already heard from a number of women regarding the significant stress and trauma that many across Scotland experience as a result of housing issues.

“Women’s inequality continues to persist and define us at both a societal and cultural level leading to unequal access to support and lack of awareness of gendered issues.

“We want to ensure that no voice goes unheard. We need to directly address these problems and find critical solutions for a future in which women can be guaranteed safe spaces.”