Women’s Budget Group - Voices of Experience Workshop Proposal Free Workshop for a London-Based Women’s Group on Campaigning on PovertyThe WBG is delighted to announce that it is looking for applications from London-based
women’s groups to take part in an all-expenses-paid, tailored campaigning workshop to
help women who have experienced social exclusion through poverty to identify the issues that
impact on them and develop a campaign strategy. The outcomes of the workshop will then be
developed into an off-the-shelf resource pack which can be accessed by all community groups.
The Women’s Budget Group is an independent organisation bringing together individuals
from academia, non-governmental organisations and trades unions to promote gender equality
through appropriate economic policy. In all our work, we ask the question: 'Where do
resources go, and what impact does resource allocation have on gender equality?' The impact
that government expenditure can have on women's everyday lives, especially women
experiencing poverty, is of particular concern to us.
backgroundIn 2005/6 the Women’s Budget Group (WBG) ran the successful ‘Voices of Experience’ Project.
The project entailed participatory research conducted with women in poverty living in
Birmingham, Cardiff, and London. The project aimed to build their political capacity so that they
could take their collective knowledge and experience, present it as policy proposals to
policymakers and actively help to produce policy change. This project encouraged participants
to define what poverty meant to them and then identify recommendations to improve their
situation. They then prioritised three recommendations to present to policy makers. These
were: to increase benefits; to provide free, high-quality childcare; and to create a Women’s Act
to ensure the protection of equality rights.
At the end of the project participants met with policy makers at different levels of government
to present their proposals and engage in a dialogue. This gave both sides an opportunity to gain
insights into the others experience.
The WorkshopThe Women’s Budget Group now wishes to build on this project by holding
a workshop with women with low incomes, the outcomes of which will be developed into a
campaign resource pack. We would like to invite members of women’s groups in London to
take part in a one-day workshop as outlined below which will be adapted around the priorities
identified by the women prior to the workshop and support them to develop a campaign
strategy around these issues.
The Participants The WBG has money to fund a group of 10-12 participants from a
London-based women’s group to take part in the workshop. Because the workshop is only one
day we are hoping to work with a group of women who already know each other and ideally
have been engaged or interested in campaigning prior to the workshop. Because the workshop
will be held in London and money to cover travel costs is limited, we are hoping to work with a
group of women already based in London.
Provisions The WBG is able to pay for travel and childcare costs for all the participants. The
venue will be in EC1 in London and the money for travel costs is limited so we are hoping to
work with a group of women already based in London. The WBG will also be providing lunch
and venue for the workshop.
Timing The workshop should take place around April-May 2010
Pre-Meet: The workshop will be preceded by a meeting with our facilitator and Women’s
Budget Group Staff with the group of women attending the workshop. This will allow them to
identify their concerns and ensure that the agenda of the day allows them to focus on these
issues.
Outcomes The one-day workshop will allow participants to develop a practical campaign
resource pack, based on the Voices of Experience research learning and findings. This pack can
be used as an off-the-shelf strategy for any group of excluded women (and other excluded
communities) to develop their own campaigns on the issues of most importance to them.
Applications To apply to take part, please send a short outline of your group of women, any
experience you have in campaigning, contact details and location in London to
[email protected]by 10am Friday 12 March 2010. If you would like to discuss this further please email the
above address with any queries, if you would like us to call you back, leave your phone number
and we will respond to you soon.
source: WBG
