Spring 2008 Newsletter
Publication Date: 27th February 2008
In this issue
Wolverhampton City Council's Gender Equality SchemeFawcett Society's Women and Child Poverty Campaign
Wolverhampton's Silent Vigil
Penn Fields Women's and Children's Network
Women's Communities of Interest Strand Updates
Network Night Raises Cash for Charity
The Refugee & Migrant Centre Launch
Wolverhampton Women Speak Out to Home Affairs Select Committee
Domestic Violence Awareness Training
......to the 5th Edition of WOW's Newsletter. In this edition we summarise the efforts made by our partners who, on behalf of WOW, deliver on the objectives of our work which is funded by Wolverhampton Network Consortium. The key focus areas include: Website and ICT development, International Women's Week, the review of All Saint's Women's Safety Report and the review of Wolverhampton City Council's Gender Equality Scheme. We are grateful to the groups and individuals who have taken forward the interests of women through the strands and look forward to seeing the fruits of their efforts in their final reports, which will be presented at WOW's Annual General Meeting in March 2008. Also available will be the report on the independent evaluation of WOW conducted by Lynne Beighton on behalf of Regional Action West Midlands.
One of the key areas of work was to provide a voice for women in respect to the development and implementation of the City Council's Gender Equality Scheme. Building on the excellent work WOW's Co-ordinator had begun in the previous year; WOW was keen to include a review of the Scheme as one of the 6 strands of work. Additionally, WOW is a direct participant in the Gender Equality Group which is chaired by Councillor Mrs. Joan Stevenson. The work of this group is fed into the City Council's Equalities Project Board.
This year, as in previous years, WOW has made a significant contribution to supporting women and women's groups and interests and it is with sadness that I step down as Chair. I am confident that whoever is fortunate enough to lead WOW in the forthcoming year will inherit an organisation which has laid solid foundations for the future. WOW is on the brink of taking its place as an established group, through which women's interests can be consulted on and shared and promoted.
The future of WOW in terms of funding is still to be decided. The last year has demonstrated that WOW occupies a unique position and has a role to play in building capacity and communicating in the sphere of women's interests. Looking back over the years and remembering that WOW has been around for longer than most of us can recall - it's clear that there is a need for WOW and that it will continue to be the voice for women in the city.
Happy Reading!
Kath Farmer
WOW Chair