‘All of us can look out for each other. We are stronger together’

 Bristol Women’s Voice (BWV) is an organisation determined to ensure that women’s voices are heard in the city. The charity is made up of women who work to increase awareness of women’s rights and advocate change. They collaborate with various Bristol organisations to achieve their goal.

Penny Gane, chair of Bristol Women’s Voice, chatted to us about the charity and their role in Bristol.

Photograph: Evoke Pictures

 What makes you passionate about Bristol Women’s Voice and the work that you do?

BWV works towards bringing about women’s equality in Bristol. Everyone involved is passionate about the work because we see inequality everywhere. This year we are seeing the first results of the gender pay gap reporting and those results are shocking. Also this year we are seeing the extent of sexual harassment in so many areas through the #metoo campaign.

We run campaigns and projects tackling maternity discrimination and health inequalities, bringing women together at events such as our International Women’s Day take-over of City Hall. We also run election hustings of MPs, mayoral candidates and the Police and Crime Commissioner, and respond to the council and other consultations on issues of importance to our members, among many other activities.

How do your initiatives make an active difference to the women in Bristol?

Different projects have different impacts. Our lottery funded media training project equipped a cohort of young women with new skills and qualifications and increased confidence; our 50-50 training and campaigning enabled women to take up positions in public life including as charity trustees, school governors and councillors; our ovarian cancer campaign saw hundreds of Bristol women able to recognise symptoms of ovarian cancer and importantly GPs trained to recognise symptoms earlier.

One of our ongoing projects, on maternity discrimination, will also have far-reaching effects. It aims to provide disadvantaged women with access to information on their legal rights, help reduce financial and emotional stress caused as a result of discrimination, and reduce the number of women losing their jobs.​ Women will also have the back up of other women in the same position through our buddy scheme. Together with the Woman To Woman project funded by the Rosa Foundation, which will enable women in local wards to be linked into the opportunities in the new Temple Quay development, we are strongly focusing on decent jobs for women.

BWV’s lantern parade in February 2018, celebrating 100 years of women’s suffrage. Image by Evoke Pictures

How does starting a conversation impact the lives of women more widely?

Starting a conversation through such initiatives as our Centenary City events can lead to further conversations and action. Belonging to a wider community of women trying to bring about change is hugely energising. Already our lantern parade and International Women’s Day take-over of City Hall have meant thousands of women taking part in new activities, listening to other women’s stories, debating difficult issues, learning from experts and sharing views and experiences. Lots of women have joined us as members and volunteers. Our voices are becoming stronger. We have a further ten centenary activities this year.

What can we, the people of Bristol, do to help contribute to this change?

Everyone in Bristol can contribute to this change. Employers can take measures to reduce the gender pay gap by providing flexible working, childcare provision, and making sure maternity and paternity rights are respected. Schools can make sure STEM (science, technology, engineering, maths) subjects are attractive to young women, and also join the Bristol Ideal programme to ensure healthy relationships between young people. Employers can join our Zero Tolerance programme to help eliminate gender-based violence, abuse, harassment and exploitation. Any community group can contact us to work on better health outcomes for women. All of us can look out for each other. We are stronger together.

For more information about Bristol Women’s Voice, visit www.bristolwomensvoice.org.uk or email info@bristolwomensvoice.org.uk

Main image by Evoke Pictures