Women’s Support WSN Network Newswsn.org.uk/sites/default/files/newsletters/WSN Newsletter -...

Inside this issue:

Cover Story Emergency Funding Extension

1

Welcome 1

DSD Press Release 2

Outreach and Development News

3

News and Events 4/5

Policy Issues 6/7

Notifications 8

On the 2nd of November 2005 David Hanson, Minister for Social Development, announced additional funding of £750,000 to help women’s organisations deliver s e rv i ce s to d i sadvantaged communities. (See page 2 for the full DSD Press Release). This is effectively an extension of the six month ‘rescue package’ emergency fund established by John Spellar (previous Minister for Social Development) in March 2005. This extension to March 06 is welcomed by the women’s sector as it will enable the survival of essential services and provision to and for women, and we would also like to thank the minister for his response. As part of the initial ‘rescue package’ a cross departmental Review Group was established. The Review Group had three advisors drawn from the women’s sector and one independent funder. The final

report of the Review Group was presented to David Hanson at the beginning of September 2005. The report has now been reviewed by Minister Hanson and is available on DSD’s website. (www.dsdni.gov.uk, or alternatively you can contact WSN 9023 6923 to have a copy emailed). The key function of the review group was to examine the future funding possibilities for the women’s sector. This report concentrates on five key areas, namely; Infrastructure, Community Development, Education, Childcare and Advice. There are points to be welcomed in the report, but what is also evident is that this report is not a final comment but a milestone in a longer journey to ensure the continuation of the vital service provision of the community based women’s sector in Northern Ireland.

November 2005

WSN

Emergency Funding extension

Volume 5 Issue 5

Women’s Support Network News

Downtown Women's Building Women’s Support Network

2nd Floor 109-113 Royal Avenue

Belfast BT1 1FF

Phone: 028 9023 6923/028 9024 4397 Fax: 028 9031 0307

Email:

[email protected] Website:

www.womenssupportnetwork.org

WSN would like to welcome our newest member Newtownabbey Community Voice. This is an umbrella organisation for community groups in the Newtownabbey area, providing a range of services e.g sign posting, training programmes, outreach and development. If you would like further information on the services they provide please contact: Caroline McCord (Co-ordinator) or Wendy Conor (Administrative Officer) on 028 9084 3534 or by email at [email protected]. Their website is currently under construction.


DSD Press Release

2 November 2005

WOMEN’S ORGANISATIONS TO RECEIVE £750,000

The Minister for Social Development has announced additional funding of £750,000 to help women’s organisations deliver services to disadvantaged communities. David Hanson MP said: “The Government has previously recognised the important role that women’s organisations play in tackling disadvantage and was able to provide financial support at a critical time. I am very pleased to announce that, together with my Ministerial colleagues, we are able to continue that support for 25 women’s organisations until March 2006. The additional £750,000 will provide support for those groups to plan their future work, and to help them to identify how they can develop their services to reflect government priorities identified in the recent draft budget statement. For many years, women’s organisations have been supported by a number of short term funding programmes which are now ending. It is important that all voluntary and community sector organisations, including the women’s centres, focus on how they can develop the quality of their services to enable their work to continue in an increasingly competitive funding environment. The draft budget identifies substantial additional resources to support childcare, tackle youth unemployment and promote top quality skills training. It is important that these additional resources are well spent. We are committed therefore to delivering the best quality public services with a particular focus on the needs of disadvantaged communities. Within disadvantaged communities, government will work with those organisations that can deliver the highest quality public services. From April 2006 onwards, women’s organisations will therefore have to compete with others who wish to deliver these services. Those organisations that focus on service delivery and outcomes are most likely to be successful.” NOTES TO EDITORS: 1. In March 2005 John Spellar, the previous Minister for Social Development, announced a six month

‘rescue package’ for women’s organisations providing services to disadvantaged communities. 2. As part of the ‘rescue package’ a cross departmental Review Group was established. The Review

Group had three advisors drawn from the women’s sector and one independent funder. The final report of the Review Group was presented to David Hanson at the beginning of September 2005.

3. The report of the Review Group is available on the DSD website - www.dsdni.gov.uk/index/publications.htm

Emergency Funding extension announcement

The Get Heard Project The Get Heard Project is a UK wide project working through Anti-Poverty Groups and other partners. Supported by the European Commission and the Department for Work & Personnel, it aims to spread awareness on the National Action Plans (NAP) for Social Inclusion through the Get Heard Toolkit. This toolkit offers a workshop aimed at encouraging people experiencing poverty to comment on what the government is doing on poverty issues. It addresses three questions:- • What is working? • What is not working? • What should be done differently? The workshop offers the opportunity to explore local poverty issues through local knowledge. Facilitation is provided by NIAPN, your contribution is a room, a group of participants and a flipchart.

Each workshop will lead on to two other opportunities for impacting on government at a regional and a local level. A regional event will be held on December 13th 2005 by NICVA. Here workshop participants will feed back the findings made from their particular workshop. Key government department personnel and political representatives will also be attending the event. A national event is due to take place in London in January.

Windsor Women’s Centre, Women’s Tec and Greenway Women’s Centre will be hosting workshops over the month of November. If you/your group are interested in hosting a Get Heard workshop you can contact WSN on 9023 6923, or you can contact NIAPN directly on 9024 4555 or www.niapn.org/ Newsletter / Information The Newsletter is a way for WSN to keep our members appraised of the work we are doing on their behalf. It can also be used by member groups for sharing information with other groups or for promoting events within local centres. WSN encourages member groups to use this service. For further info on visits, events or the newsletter contact Siobhánn on 9023 6923 or a l ternat i ve ly you ca n em ai l t o [email protected]

Brussels Trip Tanya Hughes, Director of Ballybeen Women’s Centre and WSN Board Member recently represented WSN at a Network NI promotional study tour to Brussels. WSN are members of Network NI, a body established to bring together organisations funded under Measure 4.1 ‘Networking in Europe and Beyond’ of the EU Peace and Reconciliation programme. The aim of Network NI is to promote members expertise, skills and services throughout Europe and beyond, to develop strategic partnerships which contribute towards the sustainability of its membership. The purpose of the trip was to promote Network NI members’ expertise, skills and services to: · Create enhanced partnership opportunities

for civil society throughout Europe & beyond · Participate in European partnership

interregional co-operation, engaging in transnational and international funding programmes and projects.

The trip coincided with European week of Cities and Regions and during the three day trip a number of meetings were arranged including a meeting with Jonathon Denness and Femandeo Criado-Alonso who have regional responsibility for Peace II Programme They made a number of comments on current and future peace funding: • There is a big emphasis on peace and

reconciliation and the Commission are now keen to see evidence of lessons learnt in Northern Ireland and how these and other key experiences can be shared with other countries emerging from conflict e.g. the Balkans, Cyprus etc.

• Regarding Peace III they said that although

there was money available a further round of funding had not been requested by the British or Irish Governments and therefore nothing was agreed yet.

Overall the visit to Brussels provided a good opportunity to highlight the work being done by the members of Network NI and enabled them to gain an insight into the range and role of different programmes/bodies that exist in Brussels.

Volume 5 Issue 5

Outreach & Development News


News and Events WOMEN’STEC Enabling women into non-traditional employment

“Changing the shape of builders bums” campaign Opening up real career opportunities for Women

On the 21st September 2005 WOMEN’STEC launched their ‘Changing the shape of builders bums’ campaign with the unveiling of a billboard in Belfast at Millfield West, opposite the Millfield car park, to celebrate 12 women who are embarking on a new career in the construction industry. Nuala Mc Keever, whose builder’s bum captured the funny side of men on site, officially launched the programme entitled “Trading Places Citywide”. This project is being run by WOMEN’STEC, in partnership with Enterprise Ulster under the Training for Work Programme. It is an innovative project that has pulled together the support of many agencies within the education system, the construction industry and the Department of Health and Social Services, and it has been funded through the Peace II programme, via BLSP Measure 3.2. This billboard celebrates the 12 women who enrolled initially through WOMEN’STEC and have now progressed to BIFHE to study an NVQ Level 2 in the following trades, Joinery, Brickwork, Plastering, Painting and Decorating. At the launch Anne McVicker, Chief Executive of WOMEN’STEC said, “This is a great opportunity not only for these women but for the Construction industry as a whole. There is currently a serious skills shortage and this programme gives the green light to women who haven’t previously been offered these career options.” Ms McVicker added “There are only 3% of women working in the industry at Craft level and WOMEN’STEC are aiming to create an acceptance of women working in construction, as there are real jobs and real opportunities out there.”

For further information: Contact:

Anne McVicker Tel: 028 9074 9810

Email: [email protected] Visit: www.womenstec.com

Volume 5 Issue 5

News and Events

Women into Politics hosted their annual awards ceremony in Stormont on Wednesday 26th October. The event hosted by Norah Beare MLA, was a celebration of all of the hard work of the WiP staff, tutor team and all course participants over the past year.

Isobel Loughran (WiP Education Co-ordinator) gave an overview of the past training year and detailed the areas who had participated in training, these included groups from Belfast, such as Footprints Women's Centre, Farset International and Seymour Hill Women's Group, other areas represented included Omagh, Dungannon and Newry.

Felicity Huston (NI Commissioner for Public Appointments) was guest speaker at the event. She congratulated Women into Politics and all involved with the organisation for their sterling work with and for women, and urged WiP to continue their ground-breaking work in broadening the private and public spheres of women.

After the award of certificates the participants enjoyed a tour of the Parliament Building before engaging in a lively debate on 'Affirmative Action' in the Senate Chamber, chaired by Patricia Lewsley (MLA). Other politicians in attendance on the day included Pat O'Rawe (MLA) and Eileen Bell (MLA).

The event concluded with lunch, an enjoyable day was had by all. Just as a final note - many of the participants were impressed with the WiP 'bar of rock' given out to all in attendance - one was overheard saying 'that is better than a pen any day!' It was certainly a novel way to brand Women into Politics, although the remaining bars of rock mysteriously went missing during the day - but that means that somebody somewhere is munching 'WiP rock' - It's all good PR!

Congratulations to WiP for a great event.

On Wednesday 28th September Al-Nisa Association NI launched their book “ Muslims in Northern Ireland” Al-Nisa Association NI is a organisation run by volunteers offering services of support to Muslim women living in Northern Ireland The launch was held in Parliament Buildings, Stormont and was hosted by Carmel Hanna. The event highlighted the contribution and achievements of Muslims in Northern Ireland with an historical analysis given by Dr. Mazhar M. Khan. Copies of the book can be obtained by contacting: Mrs Khan (Chairperson) Al-Nisa Association Northern Ireland c/o 46 Mount Eden Park Belfast BT9 6RB Or check out the website: www.al-nisa.org.uk

STARTING A BUSINESS COULD YOU DO IT?

• WHAT STOPS WOMEN GOING IT ALONE? • HOW DO WOMEN SUCCEED IN BUSINESS? • ARE THERE ENOUGH RESOURCES TO HELP?

FIND OUT: BE INSPIRED: LEARN MORE COME ALONG TO A PRESENTATION

VENUE: WOMEN’S INFORMATION GROUP,

6 MOUNT CHARLES, BELFAST BT7

DATE: 21ST NOV 2005 TIME: 10.30 – 11.30

FUNDED BY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION N.I.

Women into Politics Awards Ceremony Al-Nisa Book Launch

WSN Policy work September-October


WSN Response to the Review of Public Administration Consultation Document,

September 2005

As a women’s organisation, the WSN is concerned about the future representation of women in the new structures proposed by the overhaul of the system • A commitment to a minimum representation of

40% of both men and women on all public bodies

• Capacity building to be targeted at men and

women and to include participation from political parties, public bodies and voluntary and community organisations

• Positive action to ensure the equal

representation of women • Partnership arrangements between the

voluntary sector and local government to be equality proofed, including gender parity

• Abolition of dual mandate • Political parties to be encouraged to stand equal

numbers of male and female candidates • Mandatory codes of ethics for councils • Civic councils to reflect the diversity of their

communities • Positive measures to improve the work/life

balance and culture within local government • Gender Awareness Programmes combined with

positive action to increase the employment of under-represented groups

• Greater resources for women’s organisations to

facilitate equality in partnership

A copy of the full response can be downloaded from the Network’s website at— www.womenssupportnetwork.org.

WSN Response to National Heritage Memorial Fund and Heritage Lottery

Fund S 75 Screening Report

WSN stated their support with the ethos of the

Fund, namely that it is important to support projects

that help with the preservation of records that

record the contribution to the past made by

individuals, families and communities.

We noted that the projects supported in the past by

the Fund have included groups that are marginalised

and often find difficulties in accessing funding. As

an organisation that represents the interests of

women from the most disadvantaged communities

in the Greater Belfast area, we noted the fact that

the contribution made by women from the grass

roots over the past thirty years of conflict is an

important subject that has so far remained

undocumented. Their role in maintaining community

cohesion in the most difficult of times and their

cross-community work on key areas of common

interest deserves to be recorded. Not least, it

provides important comparative lessons for post-war

reconstruction and peace-building.

We completed our response by suggesting that

future projects should research the hidden

contribution of women as an action-research project

that would have the potential to validate the work

performed by women and to empower them to

continue.

WSN Policy work September-October

WSN recently contacted the Rt Hon Jeff Rooker, Minister of State regarding the ‘Enough is Enough’ campaign stating that we felt that decisive political action is needed now — 150,000 children here live in poverty and the government’s own statistics show that half a million people live in poor households in Northern Ireland. A quarter of our adult population is functionally illiterate. The ‘Enough is Enough’ campaign—is the latest voluntary and community sector campaign for an effective anti-poverty strategy. Frustrated at the latest document to emerge from OFMDFM, voluntary and community sector organisations are working together to call for the development of an effective and robust strategy to tackle poverty in NI. You can find out more about the ‘Enough is Enough’ campaign at www.communityni.org or by email: [email protected] We do not accept that the current government proposals for an anti-poverty strategy are a basis for the way forward. They contain no targets, no commitment to a proper budget to combat poverty, no analysis of the causes of poverty and no action to tackle the unacceptable gap between the rich and the poor in our society. The goal has to be progress towards a more equal society since unequal societies have higher levels of poverty, crime, alienation and other negative social consequences. The response to the first draft ‘strategy’ was received negatively by over 180 voluntary and community organisations and alternative proposals made at that time do not seem to have been considered. As it stands, the proposed strategy will do nothing to improve the lives of adults and children in Northern Ireland suffering from poverty and social exclusion. More far-reaching solutions are required.

Legal duties, which were introduced on 1 January 2000, require public authorities "to have due regard" to the need to promote equality of opportunity and "to have regard" to the desirability of promoting good relations. The duties are designed to ensure that equality and good relations considerations are made central to policy development by Government and public authorities (ECNI 04). Over the next 12 months, as part of the 5-year review, Public Authorities will have to evaluate their progress and identify areas for improved progress in promoting equality of opportunity and good relations. The Equality Commission NI are hosting sessions for the voluntary and community sector to feed into the review process, these are being held on 14th & 15th November. If you would like further information you can contact - Grainia Long (Director—Policy inc. Statutory Duty) Tel 9050 0578 Email [email protected]


New TSN Update Towards an Anti-Poverty Strategy

Five Year Review of Equality Schemes by Public Authorities October/November 2005

If you want copies of any WSN responses—call the office or we can email/post you a copy. Al-ternatively you can view/download our policy/consultation responses on our website: www.womenssupportnetwork.org

WSN Newest Staff Member WSN would like to take this opportunity to extend a welcome to Lynn Carvill. Lynn, will join the staff team of WSN and take up the post of Policy & Re-search Co-ordinator from Monday 14 November 2005. Lynn was previously the Director of OUNI (Organisation of the Unemployed Northern Ireland). She can be contacted by: Email - [email protected] or by telephoning the office on 9023 6923

New WSN Policy Worker

WSN

Electoral Registration 2005 The annual canvass of electors is now underway. Everyone who is eligible to vote must complete a registration form in order to be included in the Register of Electors to be published on 1 December 2005. While it is not compulsory to vote, it is a legal requirement for everyone in Northern Ireland aged 17 and over to register to vote and to be included on the Electoral Register. Forms were posted to each household at the end of August and collected by Canvassers throughout September and October. If you did not receive a form or require an additional one, you can either telephone on 9044 6688 or email [email protected] or visit the website on www.electoralofficeni.gov.uk/contact/index.asp The deadline for the return of completed forms is 18 November 2005

As this will be the last edition of the WSN Newsletter for 2005, WSN would like to wish all their members and supporters

A Happy and Peaceful Holiday Season

Women’s Aid NEED YOUR HELP!

Every year Women’s Aid holds a day of public action outside Dáil Eireann to mark the start of the 16 Days of Action Opposing Violence Against Women. This year Women’s Aid staff and volunteers will highlight the prevalence of domestic violence in Irish Society by highlighting the fact that 1 in 5 Irish women have experienced violence within an intimate relationship.

In order to create maximum interest in the action Women’s aid have decided to use the symbol of the wedding dress to signify an intimate relationship. To this end they need as many women as possible to dress up as brides with veils (to cover faces) and every fifth women will be marked with a sign with words like ‘beaten’, ‘raped’, ‘murdered’, ‘punched’, ‘hospitalised 5 times’ etc. Although the wedding dress will immediately suggest marriage, Women’s Aid will make sure that the message that violence takes place within all intimate relationships and not only marriage is to the fore on the day.

So, if you are free on Friday 25 November 2005 at 11.00 a.m. and would like to play a part in the action please let Christina Sherlock at [email protected]

Also Women’s aid need to gather as many white dresses, shoes, umbrellas as possible so if you have access to these items and are willing to loan them for the day please let Christina Sherlock know (email address above). Women’s Aid will take every meas-ure to ensure they are returned to you in the same condition

Interface Centre researcher Helen Sharkey (University of Ulster) is documenting Community Arts in Northern Ireland from 1970 (or earlier) up to the present day. This research is to prove that community arts activities in local communities over the past three—four decades have made a difference in NI neighbourhoods. The response to this survey will: • Provide published proof of the real

value of community arts in local neighbourhoods

• Make the argument that this work

must be funded by government • Aim to stop further cutbacks in cul-

tural/social funding policies in NI Helen is looking for individuals and groups to complete a survey to aid in this research. Each completed entry will be entered into a prize draw. To apply you can visit: www.interface.ulster.ac.uk and apply online, or you can contact Helen at Interface Research Centre, Ulster University, York Street, Belfast, BT1 1ED. Mobile no: 07909 978 426.

Interface Research Centre— Community Arts in NI

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