Women Rally for International Women’s Day 2015 Inside this issue: Launch of Women’s Manifesto
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Live & Learn Success
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Facilitator Training Update
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WS Lobbyist Update
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EU Delegation Trip
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NIWEP Consultation
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New WRDA members
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Member of the Month
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Abbeyfield tell Resident’s Story
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Consortium website launches
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Top left to bottom right—Women’s Sector Delegates head up the rally, Lord Mayor Nichola Mallon, STEM student Raquel Hossein, the busy IWD crowd outside City Hall.
On Saturday 7th March, hundreds of women came together in Belfast City Centre to celebrate IWD. The IWD Rally has been held every year since 2010 and is an opportunity for women and their allies to come together and march on City Hall in a cry for gender equality, and in celebration of women across the globe.
Ethnic Women’s Network. All speakers acknowledged that while great advancements have been made for women, there is still a long way to go on the journey to equal rights and equal representation in all areas of life. In particular, Naomi Connor drew attention to how welfare reforms and public sector cuts will disproportionately affect women; Raquel 2015’s Rally, organised by Reclaim the Agenda, Hosein to the need for women to keep pushing was the most successful yet, with a massive for their place in male-dominated careers; and crowd gathering in Writer’s Square, including Nandi Jola to the discrimination and invisibility staff and members of women’s organisations, of BME women in NI. trade unions, community groups and young families. At around 2pm all flags, banners and WRDA would like to extend its thanks to Replacards were hoisted and the rally took off claim the Agenda for putting together this down Royal Avenue. At City Hall, the crowd year's fantastic IWD programme, with over 50 was welcomed by Women’s Centre Lobbyist events including a series of popular lectures in and MC Orlaith Hendron, who introduced a the Ulster Hall. Thanks also to the speakers, range of inspirational speakers including Lord and all the families, individuals and groups Mayor Nichola Mallon; NIPSA’s Naomi Connor; who turned up to make 2015’s IWD Rally such Raquel Hosein, a young woman entering into a resounding success. We’re looking forward the STEM field; Youth Action’s Margaret Ward, to next year already! and Nandi Jola from the Black, Minority and
Contact Details: Women’s Resource and Development Agency 6 Mount Charles Belfast BT7 1NZ Phone 028 9023 0212 Fax 028 9024 4363 Email info@wrda.net Website www.wrda.net
WRDA releases new Women’s Manifesto By Training and Development Coordinator Isobel Loughran As a membership-led organisation, the views and experiences from our engagement with members have been at the heart of shaping our new Women’s Manifesto. In 2014, WRDA facilitated a series of workshops incorporating the views of over 100 women from women centres, groups and organisations. The completed manifesto aims to reflect those issues directly affecting women, such as; women and the economy, childcare, women and peacebuilding, women in decision making, violence against women, reproductive health & justice, education and training, and more. We would like to thank all the women, staff and organisations including Falls, Greenway, Windsor Women’s Centre, WOMEN’S TEC and everyone who donated their time and effort in working with us to produce this manifesto. Acknowledgements also to Ellen Finlay, Kellie O’Dowd, Bridget Loughran, Fidelma Carolyn, Fiona O’Connell and Claire Bailey for their contributions.
There was an official launch for the manifesto on Tuesday 31st March from 2:30 – 4:30pm at the MAC in St. Anne’s Square. More details will follow in future publications. The Manifesto is available now in the resources section of our website: http://www.wrda.net/WRDA-Publications.aspx
Success for Live and Learn By Project Worker Katherine Robertson
Training Update By Programme Coordinator Lea Braithwaite
The Live and Learn Project has enjoyed a great start to 2015. Our funder, The Big Lottery Fund, has just responded to the Year 6 Mid-Year Report on the project, saying that the “excellent progress to date has been noted”. We also recently hosted a successful meeting for staff who have had their salary paid by Live and Learn funding, during which there were some great discussions about what it's been like to be involved in the project over the last few years. Many interesting points were raised including: • The importance of the women’s sector as a way of meeting women’s needs, for example bereavement, illness, broken relationships and also that women from a wide range of backgrounds are in need of support. • The opportunity that Live and Learn has given the women’s organisations to engage with new audiences. • The importance of the flexibility of Live and Learn funding in contrast to some other funders. • The subject of databases and compatibility, suggesting the possibility of creating a generic database to calculate numbers for all centres. • The importance of opportunities for partnership working. • The opportunity for some centres to further develop volunteering. Live and Learn courses are still running in most centres across all of the outcomes. All centres will have had the opportunity to further reflect on the Live and Learn experience through the monitoring forms and if anyone wants to discuss any points please contact Katherine at katherine.robertson@wrda.net or on 028 9023 0212.
Community Facilitator Trainees
As we are nearing the end of the financial year, WRDA’s training team would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the Community Facilitators for your great work and commitment this year. It has been another successful year, with WRDA having delivered over and above its target of 70 health and leadership programmes including Parents Promoting Sexual Health, Parents Promoting Healthy Habits, Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing, Breast Cervical and Bowel Screening Awareness and more. At this challenging and uncertain time, WRDA appreciates the support it has received both from the community facilitators and the range of community groups and organisations it has worked with over the years. WRDA looks forward to continuing to work with you.
Update on current Women’s Sector Issues By Women’s Sector Lobbyist Orlaith Hendron ESF Funding The women’s sector are facing their harshest times yet due to the issues surrounding the European Social Fund (ESF) grant round and the DEL Committee’s maladministration of this program of funding. As lobbyist for the women’s sector I’ve been involved in the efforts taking place that have allowed for organisations initially eliminated from ESF to appeal or resubmit documents. Whilst this has caused a certain delay on those who were successful in the initial round, it means that many more organisations may get the funding they need. IWD/RTA The IWD festival was our biggest yet, with over 50 events. A big congratulations to everyone who ran an event and a huge thanks to the managing committee Reclaim the Agenda (RTA) who work tirelessly all year round to ensure the festival runs
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Lobbyist part of EU Delegation Our lobbyist, Orlaith Hendron, was part of a delegation of people brought over to visit the European Commission with MEP Martina Anderson. The trip involved a one night stay in Brussels with a wider party of groups, individuals and organisations who were taken on a tour of the Commission, given information on how its various structures work and then introduced to a number of prominent figures. Namely a representative from the European Ombudsman, to whom Orlaith had recently reported DEL for maladministration of the European Social Fund, and the MEP from the Swedish Socialist Party who shared information on initiatives taking place that are looking into pregnancy and the workplace. There were also some good pointers to EU funding that can be accessed by organisations rather than member states and the group was encouraged to access these funds, namely the Erasmus+ programme.
smoothly. RTA is an unconstituted group that’s open to all, whether you represent an organisation or you’re simply an interested individual, get in touch and come along. Community Planning – what it means for me I am currently lobbying the Belfast City Council as under the local government reform they will receive powers of Community Planning which are due to shift from Central Government to Local Council in April when the new super councils come into force. This means that your local council will now be responsible for service delivery in your area from your bins being collected to parking, public spaces, buildings and vehicle services. Bigger councils will also be responsible for the allocation of some funds and it’s essential that women’s sector organisations and local groups are aware of this change so that they can make sure the work they do is recognised. This is a great opportunity for everyone to get in
touch with local councillors and make sure that your council is serving your needs. Elections – Hold Them To Account This May there will be Westminster elections and next year, 2016, we have our local assembly elections. Given the disproportionately negative impact of the welfare cuts on women I urge you all to read the women’s manifesto and question party members, when they knock on your door, about what they’re doing for women. If their answers aren’t good enough for you, consider who you might vote for instead. It’s clear from the Stormont House Agreement that welfare cuts are going to mean the loss of vital services in health and social care as well as the huge loss of part time low paid jobs, where many women work. If you require any further information or support in lobbying at a local level please call me on 028 9023 0212 or email orlaith.hendron@wrda.net
Ending violence against women and girls By Communications & Membership Worker Robyn Scott The Northern Ireland Women’s European Platform (NIWEP) held a very successful consultation event on violence against women and girls. The event on Thursday 12th February 2015 featured a number of speakers, including the two Junior Ministers Jennifer McCann and Johnathan Bell, and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers, who gave a positive speech on how far we’ve already come on these issues.
WRDA Director Anne McVicker (far-right) with Secretary of State Theresa Villiers (centre-left)
People from across the community, including a number of WRDA staff members, gathered together to share their views and experiences and to offer their suggestions on how we can continue to tackle violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland. WRDA made sure to input ideas into these discussions. Key themes to come out of the event included the importance for education at an early age around healthy relationships and the roles of boys and girls, as well as the need for parents to talk to their children about what’s okay in a relationship. Participants also discussed the role of the media in its portrayal of news stories, the
serious gaps in the justice system that can prevent those victims of violence who do come forward from accessing justice, and the legacy of the troubles in Northern Ireland and the need for women’s experiences to be recognised and valued in the peace process. One of the biggest threats recognised by all was austerity; the cutting of vital funding to services such as Women’s Aid and the adverse impact the financial crisis is having on women and children. A report on the event is being drawn up at the moment and will be linked on our website as soon as it becomes available.
A warm welcome to our new members We are delighted to have welcomed 15 new members to the WRDA fold over the last 2 months! They include 10 individuals and the following 5 groups: Affirm NI Black & Minority Ethnic Women’s Network Garvagh Women’s Group GLOW Pitt Park Women’s Group The WRDA team is looking forward to working with you all over the coming months. Thank you for joining us!
Member of the Month: Walking in Your Community
Walking in Your Community is an initiative to encourage people throughout Northern Ireland to get walking in their local area. They offer free Community Walk Leader training to enable volunteers to confidently take groups walking, and provide insurance, support events, and further training modules such as first aid. Once leaders are trained WIYC supports them to set up walking groups and get local people involved. If you are interested in becoming a Community Walk Leader further information and applications can be found on their website: www.walkinginyourcommunity.com Norman Weekes, Community Walk Leader: "There is great camaraderie in the group, everyone simply enjoys stepping out in the fresh air, walking and talking of course." Training is free for community groups and associations, subject to a successful application process. The next Community Walk Leader training event is set to take place on the 30th April 2015 in Barnett’s Park, Belfast.
Abbeyfield Belfast looks back on the life of Alberta Murdoch for IWD When Alberta Murdoch’s boss, Minister for Education Earl de la Warr, invited her to choose a book for Christmas, she chose ‘Anybody Can Do Anything’. The book remains in her room at Bell Rotary House, a reminder of a working life in which she proved just that. Alberta Murdoch in her room at Bell Rotary
When Alberta joined the Civil Service she was a 17 year old country girl, “innocent in every way.” But it wasn’t long before she’d broken out of the typing pool and was meeting with Ministers and other politicians. So valued was her contribution to the NI Civil Service that in 1985 she was awarded an MBE for her role in setting up the NI Court Service. Alberta opted for the Civil Service because the Ministry of Education had relocated to Portrush, close to her home in Coleraine, and at 28 shillings a week, the pay was better than the 25 shillings on offer at the shipping company. It would be almost 30 years until she could expect to be paid the same as a man doing the same work, but when she started out, it was ‘inconceivable’ that she would be able to do to anything other than the roles generally assigned to women. She joined as a copy typist, “the lowest form of life, I was told”, and fully expected to remain in the secretarial ranks. There was little scope for women to progress in the Civil Service at the time. “We were resigned to that. You were so glad to have a decent job,” she says. There was one woman who inspired her, though. Dehra Parker was the longest serving woman MP in the NI House of Commons, MP for South L’derry, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Education, and she encouraged Alberta. “In those days it wasn’t easy to get promotion,” Alberta says, but she sat the exams and went for a board and succeeded in transferring to the clerical ranks. When the war ended and Government returned to Belfast, Alberta progressed through the ranks, mostly working in the Private Offices of Ministers. In 1979 the Lord Chancellor, Lord Hailsham, selected Alberta to be his liaison in Belfast when the NI Court Service was set up. It was the height of the Troubles, and working in the Court division could be risky. When she reached the rank of Deputy Principal, she decided that was as far as she wanted to progress. Alberta had no regrets about not applying for further promotion, and none about never marrying, either, but she is glad that the attitude to single women has progressed. “I think people like me who didn’t marry feel more important than would have happened 20 years before - they would have thought ‘poor old thing, an old maid’,” she laughs. Alberta had her opportunities to wed, but was never quite sure, and opted to prove instead, that anyone really can do anything.
Women’s Regional Consortium Website launches A new website for the Women's Regional Consortium has gone live, featuring many resources for local women, including an extensive e-library and a directory containing hundreds of useful contacts. The site will provide regular updates on the Consortium's activities and can be accessed now via this link: http:www.womensregionalconsortiumni.org.uk/ WRDA is one of seven partners in the Consortium, working to provide a voice to women in disadvantaged and rural areas alongside FWIN, NIRWN, WOMEN'STEC, TWN, WSN and The Women's Centre Derry.