Discussing the future of women's equality

Platform 51 spent last Saturday in London and participating in the exciting FEM11 conference, organised by UK Feminista. The venue was jam-packed with approximately 1,000 feminists. There was a buzz and excitement in the air at the start of the event that this was going to be something special and the event definitely lived up to expectations .

The day began with inspirational talks from the director of UK Feminista, Kat Banyard who emphasised the necessity of new ideas and bravery in the feminist movement as women's equality appears to be taking steps backwards. The next speaker was the acclaimed writer and broadcaster, Sandi Toksvig, who called upon women to stand up for what they believe in, she gave examples of years of female belittlement in literature and in education and asked: "What are we going to do?" The event showed there IS something we can all do, together and independently.

Platform 51's involvement in the day started with our director of policy, campaigns and communications, Rebecca Gill, giving a speech at the Fawcett Society session: Don't turn back time! Protesting against cuts that will harm women's equality.  Rebecca spoke about how young mothers and young carers at Platform 51 are finding the current climate increasingly hard. Rebecca echoed Sandi Toksvig, repeating that women are "bearing the brunt" of the government's cuts.

In the afternoon Platform 51 hosted an interactive session: A Different perspective: teenage mums and feminism. The turnout was amazing - there were so many people, some had to stand outside the door. Three brave women from our centres - Kealy, Katie and Lindsey - each talked about their own experience of being a teenage mother. Each talked about the ups and downs and the help they received from Platform 51. Platform 51 has supported them to do internships, pursue education and get involved in campaigns. The aim of the session was to offer participants facts about teenage pregnancy as a contrast to how it is widely portrayed.

It was also a great opportunity for Platform 51 to hear the views from those attending the session. Other teenage mothers shared their stories and experiences about what difficulties they faced and still face today. The general consensus was that teenage mothers are not supported by the government: education is very rarely tailored to fit a parent or carer and childcare is difficult to obtain. Lindsey drew attention to this by saying: "The reality of receiving benefits and housing as a young mum is far from as easy as the media make it sound." Likewise, Katie said: "Without the massive support network I have around me, I don't know how I would've coped." There is an undeniable lack of support for teenage mothers - politicians go as far as saying that teen pregnancy is as bad for society as gun crime and knife crime. But getting pregnant is in no way a crime. A strong sense of maturity was proven by our young women: as Kealy states, that raising children is not about "the age of the mother, it's the mind-set."

The afternoon had everyone at Fem '11 sat eagerly listening to questions posed to Shami Chakrabrti, Bea Campbell, Zoe Williams, Carlene Firmin and Matt McCormack Evans - all known for their on-going celebration and endorsement of feminism. The conversation was mainly driven around the sex industry, women's portrayal in the media and a lack of acclaimed feminist role models in the press.

The day ended with the candidates for Mayor of London answering questions on how they would tackle women's inequality. Unfortunately, there was no Conservative representative but the session was still interesting and gave some insight in to what exactly is at the forefront of each party's campaign and how women fit in to it.

The inspirational day provided hope for women and we went home with the words of Sandi Toksvig's ringing in our ears: "Be bold when you declare: I am a feminist."

Speaking up about trafficking, drugs and prostitution

Students from three Bristol schools visited Bristol City Council house last week to take part in a mock council meeting and debate with local City Councillors, including Barbara Janke (Liberal Democrats), Peter Hammond (Labour), Peter Abraham (Conservatives) and Tess Green (Green).

Organised by women's charity Platform 51, the event aimed to give young women the chance to speak out about subjects that matter to them. On the agenda were human trafficking, prostitution, drugs and alcohol. They also learned about how local government works; Steven McNamara, the council's legal officer, told the students about the council's roles and responsibilities.

The students had clearly done their homework on their chosen subject areas. They spoke with authority on Bristol's anti-trafficking protocol; the impact of the economic climate on migration, drugs and employment; the objectification of women; the role of a free market and its impact on trafficking, prostitution and drugs; the benefits of a living wage and the pros and cons of legalising sex work and drugs to name but a few.

Councillors were impressed and delighted by the knowledge and maturity that the students displayed. 

The students learned how  important local government is and about the power of speaking up. It made them feel confident and the chance to tell people what they thought was highly valued.

Perception-busting documentary

Truth About Youth is a project run by Platform 51 in Wales, funded by The Co-operative Foundation. It aims to challenge and change widespread negative perceptions of young people.

Last week the Caerdydd Youth Team (CYT) met a group of older people from the Healthy, Wealthy and Wise project to talk about working together. They want to make a film of what they have been doing.

Sixteen-year-old Lizzie, who put the idea of making a film to the group of 56 older people, said: "I was really nervous. But I got really excited when everyone wanted to get involved. I can't wait to get started on the documentary."

The film will show the young people working closely with older people to showcase their perception-busting work.

Doreen, from the Healthy, Wealthy and Wise, said: "I am looking forward to seeing the documentary and really enjoy supporting this project."

Free women-only conference

The Women's Health & Equality Consortium (WHEC), of which Platform 51 is a member, is holding a national women-only conference on 25 October 2011 at the CBI Conference Centre, 103 New Oxford Street, London WC1A 1DU. And it's free to attend!

WHEC is a partnership of women's organisations which share the common goals of improved health and equality for girls and women.

The conference will debate health and the women's sector, and will include  speakers, interactive workshops and discussions about a wide range of women and health-related subjects. Each delegate will receive a Lobbying Toolkit to help them promote their services to government and commissioners. It promises to be a creative, enlightening and influential day.

To book your place at the conference, please complete and return this booking form or phone 020 7250 3933 for more information.

About WHEC

WHEC campaigns for a health and social care system that meets the needs of all women and girls appropriately, and properly understands their experiences. WHEC informs and supports the women's sector and influences local and national government.

Discussing the issues women face today

Platform 51 will be holding a seminar at FEM11, the UK Feminista annual conference. The conference gets hundreds of campaigners and thinkers together to discuss the issues women face today and how to build a feminist future.

Platform 51's seminar, A different perspective: teenage mums and feminism, will give teenage mothers the chance to have their say about the challenges they face and open up discussion and debate about how best to ensure that campaigns for gender equality reflect the experiences of all girls and women.

The conference is on Saturday 12 November 2011 from 10.00-5.30pm at Friends House, 173 Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ. Speakers include: Shami Chakrabarti (Liberty), Zoe Williams (The Guardian), Carlene Firmin (writer) and Bea Campbell (author and journalist).

There will also be workshops and seminars organised by: Fawcett Society, Abortion Rights, OBJECT, Southall Black Sisters, Women for Women International, Women's Resource Centre, Platform 51, Rights of Women, Centre for Women and Democracy, Women's Environmental Network, Imkaan, End Violence Against Women coalition, Women for Refugee Women and the White Ribbon Campaign.

Places are available to all, come and join in the debate and book your place today. For more information download the FEM11 flyer or visit the UK Feminista website.

Women convene in Zurich

Three women from Platform 51, formerly YWCA, are currently attending YWCA World Council in Zurich.

Jenna from Bristol, Kayleigh from Northampton and Lindsey from West London, accompanied by Platform 51 worker Marcia from Liverpool, are representing YWCA GB at the YWCA World Council meeting.

The women have joined hundreds of delegates from YWCAs across the world to discuss the universal problems that women face today, including: human rights, sexual and reproductive rights, advocacy and leadership.

Jenna wrote on the Platform 51 Facebook page:

"Some countries still find it difficult to accept women as leaders. The example given was that men are seen as the natural leaders of the communities/countries and any women who are in leadership positions are seen only to be promoting women's issues, they are not seen as leaders of the whole community."

Keep up to date with all our activities, including our delegates at World Council, on the Platform 51 Facebook page.

First woman to oversee a UK wide referendum in the UK

Platform 51's woman of the week is Jenny Watson. Jenny is the first woman chair of the Electoral Commission and the first woman to oversee a UK wide referendum in the UK. 

Today, voters across the UK will be choosing whether to change the voting system that governs UK wide General Elections.  This is the first UK wide referendum since 1975.  The Electoral Commission will so be overseeing the governance of elections for the Wales Assembly Government, the Scottish Parliament and the local elections that are taking place in some parts of England today.

Jenny has been chair of the Electoral Commission since 2008.  Before that she was chair of the Equal Opportunities Commission (now part of the Equality and Human Rights Commission).  In this role she lead important campaigns for equal pay between women and men, for better protection for pregnant women at work and for improved rights for parents and carers.

Platform 51 believes that there needs to be far more women in high profile positions in public life as they are important role models for girls and women. Jenny is a woman in a high profile position but she is also campaigning for women's equality and therefore a worthy winner of woman of the week.  We wish Jenny good luck in her role as returning officer in today's referendum.

You can find out more about Jenny on the Electoral Commission website.

27 April 1759 – 10 September 1797

This week for Woman of the week we celebrate the birth on 27 April 1759 of pioneering British feminist writer Mary Wollstonecraft. In her 1792 book A Vindication of the Rights of Woman she argued that women had the same ability to reason as men and deserved the same rights. She said women are not inferior to men but only appear to be because they lack education.

Although she was writing for 18th century readers her powerful assertions still ring true today: "Women are systematically degraded by receiving the trivial attentions which men think it manly to pay to the sex, when, in fact, men are insultingly supporting their own superiority."

More than 200 years later we are still fighting to achieve her vision of an equal society.

Platform 51 Cymru makes an impact

Staff and service users from Platform 51 Cwmafan attended the Plaid Cymru conference, the last political conference before the Welsh elections in May.

They told conference delegates about the valuable work done in the Platform 51 centre in the village of Cwmafan, near Port Talbot, including the drop-in group for young mothers and the All about Alcohol project.  This All about Alcohol project, funded by Pfizer, is helping girls to find ways to go into primary and secondary schools to raise awareness about the risks of alcohol abuse.  The girls' group has developed a resource based on the Top Trumps card game where each card highlights the impact of excessive drinking.

Representatives from Platform 51 Cardiff's Truth about Youth project, funded by The Co-operative Foundation, also attended. Fifty-five young people from Truth about Youth who created a manifesto for young people promoted this widely at the conference.

Linda Pritchard, Welsh policy officer, said: "It was good to have such a strong team effort promoting Platform 51 Cymru.  The women and young people were superb ambassadors for Platform 51's Cymru's work."

Pictured: Staff and service users from Platform 51 proudly represent the organisation at the Plaid Cymru conference

Young and old meet and mix

Power of Youth, a young people's group at Platform 51 Cardiff , invited and old people's group, Healthy, Wealthy and Wise, to a coffee and games afternoon. The two groups enjoyed cakes served by the young people and games of cards, chess, draughts and bingo. Councillor Ali from the Grange Town area  popped in to lose a game of cards to one of the Power of Youth members. Also attending were people from the local community, older neighbours and relatives of  the young people. The atmosphere of the day was fanastic and enjoyable.

Mrs Morgan said: "The young people were delightful, thank you for an enjoyable afternoon."

Sophie, aged 16, a, young carer, said: "I think the day went very well because we got involved and made new friends."

The group will keep in touch with all who attended and work with them in the future.

Today Platform 51 is celebrating International Women's Day

Today is the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day. Platform 51 couldn't let this event pass us by without celebrating. We have events happening in our centres up and down the country and we are getting involved in the national campaign EQUALS to call for a more equal world. If you have ever wondered what Platform 51 is all about then now is your opportunity to get involved and attend an event near you.

EQUALS

Platform 51 has joined a partnership of charities called EQUALS. EQUALS was brought together by Annie Lennox to celebrate the centenary of International Women's Day. Together we're stepping up the call for a more equal world. And we want you to join us.

8 March 2011

Women like us: Cornwall's International Women's Day conference
10:30am to 3:00pm Berlewen Building, Trevenson Road, Pool, Cornwall, TR15 3SE

Platform 51 Cornwall are running a conference that will focus on the findings of our report Women like me: supporting wellbeing in girls and women. The conference will give girls and women a platform to share their stories, tell us about their experiences and to find out what support they need.

To book a place contact: lindsay.anderson@platform51.org or call 01872 263112   

Doncaster's celebration day
Platform 51 Doncaster, 21 Cleveland Street, Doncaster, DN1 3EH

Platform 51 Doncaster will be celebrating International Women's Day with an open day at the centre focusing on positive mental health and resilience. We will be serving traditional asian food from our cafe and there will be a traditional thai dance demonstration.

This is an ideal opportunity to talk to staff and find out more about services available at Platform 51 Doncaster. If you would like more information please contact doncaster@platform51.org or call 01302 309800

10 March 2011

Plymouth open day
Platform 51 Plymouth, Alfred Street, The Hoe, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 2RP

Platform 51 Plymouth are holding an open afternoon at the centre with a metal workshop and a cake making workshop.

For more information contact: plymouth@platform51.org or call 01752 671080

29 March 2011
 
Women like me: event to discuss health and wellbeing.
Platform 51 Warstones, Claverley Drive, Warstones, Wolverhampton, WV4 4QL

Our Bilston and Warstones centres are holding an event to discuss the research in our report: Women like me: supporting wellbeing in girls and women. If you are in the Wolverhampton area and would like to attend please download the invitation.

30 March 2011

Comedy night, Soho

More information coming soon ... watch this space!

Available From March 2011

Walking Home Film

Platform 51 Nottingham and Initi8 volunteers from Nottingham Trent University have created a new film dramatising women's experience of street harassment. Featuring the voices and experiences of real women.

For more information contact Gill Court at Platform 51 Nottingham: gill.court@platform51.org or call 07500 553 800

Intergenerational discussions

The Power of Youth, a group of young people from Platform 51 met an Age Concerns group Healthy, Wealthy and Wise today. This was the first meeting between the two groups to discuss their plans for an intergenerational working partnership.

One elderly person said: "It is a great thing what you are doing; the young and old have many misconceptions about each other and this will help overcome many of them and build relationships. I am really looking forward to Power of Youth's event and working with these young people over the next year."

Power of Youth's event will be on Saturday 12  March at Fitzalan Youth Centre; they will be hosting tea, coffee, cakes and dancing from 12pm until 2pm. It will be a chance for both groups to get to know each other better, smash negative perceptions and plan for future events.

Sophie, aged 16 said: "I am really looking forward to getting to know the older people and hear their stories. This project has been awesome and I have been enjoying getting to know new people."

Inequality in employment

If Andy Gray had said: "more women should know the offside rule" he might still have a job. But when Andy Gray said "women don't know the offside rule" he highlighted the limitations and discrimination girls and women face in the world of employment. There is absolutely nothing about the offside rule women cannot understand, but many feel that football is such a male domain that women do not belong there.

Last week in The Times Phillip Collins wrote an article entitled The advance of women in work is still in progress in which he argued that women are facing opposition to equality in many areas not just sport. We agree and our response to Phillip Collins' article was printed in The Times today. It said:

Sir, Philip Collins ("The advance of women in work is still in progress" Jan 28) represents the views and experiences of the thousands of women we work with when he argues that it is not just in sport that sexism is still rife. From the careers advice girls receive in schools to the pensions they receive, women are still facing serious discrimination and disadvantage. We know from the girls and women we speak to every day that their aspirations and opportunities are consistently limited by stereotyping and an outdated idea of the kinds of work women should do. The consequences of this inequality in employment are clear to see with twice as many young women living in poverty as young men. This is not just a problem for women, but something that affects all our lives. If girls and women are not able to meet their potential in their personal and work lives, it is not just those individuals that suffer, but children, families and employers, who are missing out.

What is encouraging is that Sky TV took prompt action, and by sacking Andy Gray sent out a clear message: discrimination against women will not be tolerated.

What is also encouraging is that Sian Massey was on the pitch as an assistant referee in the first place. Women are starting to move into traditionally male spheres, but there is still a very long way to go.

At Platform 51 we support girls and women to aspire to more and we let them know what is possible. We run careers days to give girls a chance to try out male-dominated occupations such as building, carpentry and plumbing. We campaign for women to get chances to work in predominently male job sectors and we provide evidence to the Government, officials and relevant bodies to demonstrate the impact that discrimination has on women throughout their lives.

Women can expect prejudice and drop in status as they age

No wonder women are depressed says journalist Zoe Williams in The Guardian. Given the prejudice and drop in status women can expect as we grow older, she thinks that widespread distress looks a rational response.

Quoting from our recently published report, that 63% of girls and women in England and Wales have been affected by mental health problems, Williams argues that depression is a perfectly rational response to social conditions; specifically that as a woman ages, her burdens grow while her status diminishes.

Read more about our campaign to support women and girls with mental health problems.

Young women prepare for groundbreaking conference and manifesto

YWCA Truro is urging young women to get involved in a groundbreaking conference to celebrate achievements and consider challenges that need to be met for girls and women in Cornwall.

The conference, on International Women's Day 8th March, will showcase Cornish young women's talent: song writing and performance, drama, dance, film making and storytelling, but there will also be the opportunity to get involved with workshops and hear speakers address serious issues around YWCA's 4 key areas of work: health and well-being, education, skills, jobs and work, money and debt and crime and violence

Young women aged between 11 to 30 years are invited to come forward and get involved in the preparations. 

Sam Pashley, YWCA's centre manager, says, "This is an amazing opportunity for young women in Cornwall to speak out about what really matters to them and have their voices heard by people who can really influence change in the county and beyond."

Young Women Can Achieve (YWCA's young women's steering group) meets regularly in Truro, but there are plans to take this group out across the county. These young women are already working hard towards the conference and also Cornwall's first Young Women's Manifesto (a first draft for consultation will be presented on the day). Current membership ranges in age from 14 to 23 and hot topics at the last meeting included housing, family, relationships, debt, education and employment

Using film and storytelling, the manifesto will outline national and local priorities for young women and their calls for action regarding services in the area and public attitudes.

If you want to learn more about the conference or you work with young women who you feel could contribute to this event, please get in touch with Jo, Ruth or Wendy on 01872 263112 or email truro@ywca.org.uk

Pay increase for lowest paid apprentices

YWCA welcomes the announcement from the Trades Union Congress (TUC) that the lowest paid apprentices will get a pay boost from £80 to £95 a week.

The increase means that from Saturday 1st August 2009, apprentices will be paid at least £95 a week. 

Young women will particularly benefit from the increase as they are most likely to receive the minimum pay rate. According to latest Government figures, the average pay rate for female apprentices in hairdressing and childcare is less than £95 a week. The average weekly pay for apprentices is more than £170 a week.

YWCA's More Than One Rung campaign has called for apprentices to be paid the equivalent of the National Minimum Wage. The campaign also seeks to challenge gender stereotypes whereby young women are being steered into 'traditionally female' apprentices which tend to be lower paid. 

The new apprenticeship strategy announced by the Government is a huge step forward in providing young people with the path to a decent job. YWCA was pleased to see that many of the things we pointed out to the Government  (as told to us by girls and women) have been considered:

• It has acknowledged how many young women find themselves in poorly-paid apprenticeships and wants to tackle this;
• It has proposed a pilot scheme to help tackle the entrenched problems of gender segregation in certain job sectors;
• In job sectors which have traditionally been dominated by men, YWCA's recommendation is that femal apprentices entering male dominated sectors need support from 'mentors' is reflected.

The strategy also recognises that schoolchildren need information about the different pay rates, working conditions and expectation for different jobs and careers. Once again, this is something we have been calling for.

YWCA welcomes the fact that apprenticeship pay will be looked at in the strategy. However, with many young women still struggling on low apprenticeship wages we are appealing to the Government to set apprenticeship pay at the equivalent of the National Minimum Wage.

The challenge is for this ambitious plan to be fully implemented and YWCA will be following the evolution closely to ensure that it becomes a meaningful option for disadvantaged young women to avoid a lifetime of hardship in poorly paid jobs with no prospects

Sally Copley, director of policy, research and campaigns at YWCA said: "Apprenticeships are clearly an important doorway for young people into a job with future prospects. However there is still an inherent gender injustice that we hope will be genuinely addressed through this plan. The highest paid apprenticeship is in the electro technical field, and is exclusively male. It pays double that of the lowest paid, hairdressing, which is dominated by women. That just cannot be right."

For more information read our briefings and information sheets on jobs and training.