NEWomen’s Network Strengthening the Women’s Sector in the North East Another year on…

Outline of Presentation Who we are and why we are here Women’s inequality in the NE The health of the NE Women’s Sector What we want to do about it Current situation Next steps

Who we are and why we are here

Women’s inequality in the NE

The health of the NE Women’s Sector

What we want to do about it

Current situation

Next steps

Who we are Network of women’s voluntary sector organisations & women’s community groups across the North East

Network of women’s voluntary sector organisations & women’s community groups across the North East

Why we are here To strengthen the women’s sector and ensure survival of women’s organisations and groups

To strengthen the women’s sector and ensure survival of women’s organisations and groups

Women’s inequality in he North East National gap between men and women’s pay is 22%, in some parts of the NE it is 35% 17.6% of in higher and professional levels and 24.2% of men (compared with 37% & 40% nationally) Increase in female activity rates in NE, yet GVA declining

National gap between men and women’s pay is 22%, in some parts of the NE it is 35%

17.6% of in higher and professional levels and 24.2% of men (compared with 37% & 40% nationally)

Increase in female activity rates in NE, yet GVA declining

Women’s inequality in the North East Women without qualifications in some parts of the region is higher than the National average (25% compared to 19%) 4.4% of women are self-employed, the lowest regional level in the country, as compared to national average of 7.2%

Women without qualifications in some parts of the region is higher than the National average (25% compared to 19%)

4.4% of women are self-employed, the lowest regional level in the country, as compared to national average of 7.2%

Women’s inequality in the North East 21% of women of working age in Hartlepool have a limiting long-term illness compared with 14% nationally In some parts of NE incidents of DV higher than both burglary and robbery 1 BME woman councillor no MPs(168 & 2 nationally)

21% of women of working age in Hartlepool have a limiting long-term illness compared with 14% nationally

In some parts of NE incidents of DV higher than both burglary and robbery

1 BME woman councillor no MPs(168 & 2 nationally)

The women’s sector in the North East Women in the NE are disproportionately disadvantaged compared to nationally Yet there are less women’s groups in the North East than in any other region in the UK ( Not just bread, but roses too , Women’s Resource Centre 2009)

Women in the NE are disproportionately disadvantaged compared to nationally

Yet there are less women’s groups in the North East than in any other region in the UK

( Not just bread, but roses too , Women’s Resource Centre 2009)

What women’s orgs do Women’s sector organisations approach women issues in a holistic way by seeking to Seeking to empower women individually and collectively to identify their own solutions Improving the position of women Eliminating gendered inequality

Women’s sector organisations approach women issues in a holistic way by seeking to

Seeking to empower women individually and collectively to identify their own solutions

Improving the position of women

Eliminating gendered inequality

Women’s Sector in the North East (2008) 72% provide advice and information 49% provide advocacy 44% campaign 40% do group work 39% provide services 21% provide counselling 18% do research

72% provide advice and information

49% provide advocacy

44% campaign

40% do group work

39% provide services

21% provide counselling

18% do research

The health of the women’s sector in the North East (2009)

The health of the women’s sector in the North East (2009)

Survey responses 31% Tyne & Wear 22% Northumberland 14% Tees Valley 14% Durham 17% regional 3% national

31% Tyne & Wear

22% Northumberland

14% Tees Valley

14% Durham

17% regional

3% national

Survey responses 56% BME women 44% older women 37% young women 37% Lbi women 33% disabled women 26% Faith

56% BME women

44% older women

37% young women

37% Lbi women

33% disabled women

26% Faith

Levels of funding last 12 months 42% decreased 39% stayed the same 19% increased

42% decreased

39% stayed the same

19% increased

Levels of funding (young women) 60% Decreased 20% stayed the same 20% increased

60% Decreased

20% stayed the same

20% increased

Staffing levels 43% stayed the same 24% don’t employ staff 20% have less staff 13% have more staff

43% stayed the same

24% don’t employ staff

20% have less staff

13% have more staff

Impacts of cuts 71% less resources 47% less campaigning 33% less research 19% less women only space 14% less women only services

71% less resources

47% less campaigning

33% less research

19% less women only space

14% less women only services

Impacts of cuts (BME women) 88% less provision and resources for women

88% less provision and resources for women

Causes of funding cuts 63% women’s issues not a priority 59% less grants 52% lack of local govt support 48% women not targeted in LAAs

63% women’s issues not a priority

59% less grants

52% lack of local govt support

48% women not targeted in LAAs

Causes (BME women) 86% women’s issues not a priority for funders 71% less grants available from charities

86% women’s issues not a priority for funders

71% less grants available from charities

Casualties Durham initiative for girls and young women Stockton International Family Centre (hosted several BME women’s groups) Key women’s organisation in Northumberland ‘on brink of closure.’

Durham initiative for girls and young women

Stockton International Family Centre (hosted several BME women’s groups)

Key women’s organisation in Northumberland ‘on brink of closure.’

Survival for next 12 months 54% will be here (46% BME/40% young women) 20% may not be here (30% BME/40% young women) 11% no/ don’t know 14% will be stronger (23%/20%)

54% will be here (46% BME/40% young women)

20% may not be here (30% BME/40% young women)

11% no/ don’t know

14% will be stronger (23%/20%)

What NEWomen’s Network want to do about it

What NEWomen’s Network want to do about it

Strategic Objectives Building partnership and collaboration between women’s organisations Campaigning for decision makers to: acknowledge the systematic disadvantage women face because of gendered inequality recognise the essential services and expertise the women's sector provides

Building partnership and collaboration between women’s organisations Campaigning for decision makers to:

acknowledge the systematic disadvantage women face because of gendered inequality

recognise the essential services and expertise the women's sector provides

Strategic Objectives Promote women’s sector role in tackling the root causes of women’s economic disadvantage Developing a feminist culture within the women’s sector Educating widely to promote gender equality

Promote women’s sector role in tackling the root causes of women’s economic disadvantage

Developing a feminist culture within the women’s sector

Educating widely to promote gender equality

Current situation £70K in 2008 to around £6K 2009 0.5FTE staff now 4 hours per month Business Plan in place Steering group meeting Supported by Women’s Resource Centre ‘Stronger Together’ Website, infomail, cafe

£70K in 2008 to around £6K 2009

0.5FTE staff now 4 hours per month

Business Plan in place

Steering group meeting

Supported by Women’s Resource Centre ‘Stronger Together’

Website, infomail, cafe

Next steps Strategic funding event (March 2009) Strengthening the BME women’s sector (particularly in South of region) Linking with Feminist Webs and network for work with young women and girls

Strategic funding event (March 2009)

Strengthening the BME women’s sector (particularly in South of region)

Linking with Feminist Webs and network for work with young women and girls

NEWomen’s Network website http:// www.newwomens.net /

http:// www.newwomens.net /

Women’s cafe http:// thewomenscafe.ning.com / http:// thewomenscafe.ning.com/group/northeastwomenscafe

http:// thewomenscafe.ning.com /

http:// thewomenscafe.ning.com/group/northeastwomenscafe