Past projects

Women in Governance Project

In 2008 GAP Unit conducted a focus group and telephone interviews
with female councillors from local authorities in NW England. The report,
published in October 2009, presents their views on the barriers,
motivations and support structures which exist for women as they
become active in public life. It also looks at the factors they feel
detract from their ability to work effectively as local councillors, and
the things that support and sustain them on a personal and practical
level.
 

The report was funded by the North West Together We Can (NWTWC)
network and is intended to raise awareness of gender inequalities and
discrimination in local government, while being a tool for changing
practice and promoting equal participation in governance.
We plan to use it as an advocacy tool in meetings with local
councils, hopefully gaining commitment to act on some of the
suggestions in the report.
 

Oxfam GenderWorks programme evaluation

GAP Unit has been commissioned to evaluate GenderWorks, an innovative, Oxfam-run project funded by the European Commission that explores the problems faced by women living in poverty across Europe, and helps them tackle those problems.

 

Community Researchers on Gender and Inclusion

A project run in partnership between GAP Unit, Community Pride Unit, Takepart Pathfinders, Salford City Council and the Community Audit and Evaluation Centre at Manchester Metropolitan University. Funded by the Transformation Fund.
 
A free accredited course training local people in Salford as Community Researchers, looking at issues around gender and inclusion. The six sessions will start in January 2010 at the Ordsall Neighbourhood office, with all participants registered as Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) students. They will carry out their own fieldwork in the community to practice the skills they have learned and will receive a certificate of attendance from MMU as well as course credits if required.
 
The training is an informal education project aimed at local women and men interested in working with people from different groups in their areas, and who want to promote community inclusion and participation.
 
 
Participants will be trained in:
 
Designing questionnaires
Interviewing
Communication and facilitation skills
Conducting focus groups
Processing and analysing data
Writing reports and presentation skills -
     putting your case together and who to present it to
Practical and ethical issues in carrying out research,
     such as confidentiality and personal safety
 
Inclusion and gender equality issues

Greater Manchester Voluntary Sector Support (GMVSS) Mapping Project

GMVSS Diversity Steering Group commissioned the GAP Unit to assist in its mapping of the Greater women’s sector in the Greater Manchester region and more widely. We looked at not-for-profit organisations, projects, networks and social enterprises as well as the second tier support structures, identifying key issues and gaps in provision and support.
 

NHS HELP database

GAP Unit was asked to review and contribute quantitative or qualitative information to the NHS North West’s new Health Equalities Library Portal (HELP), an extensive online library and portal for Equalities background research and information. Our role was to help get the content right from the perspective of women and girls, for NHS managers and other public sector staff who might need it for equality impact assessments, writing evidence-based strategies / policies, planning services or updating their equality schemes.

 

NHS NW Workforce, Education Commissioning and Education and Learning Strategy – Gender Equality Review

In 2009, NHS North West Workforce and Education Directorate was seeking guidance and advice on the impact its year Workforce, Education Commissioning and Education and Learning Strategy, in terms of equality and diversity. GAP Unit was commissioned to conduct a gender review of the strategy which will provides framework for:

  • Workforce planning and development – looking at the vision, principles, current and future workforce
  • Education commissioning – outlining the commissioning process, leadership, strategy and partnerships
  • Education and learning – identifying the values, opportunities, benefits, challenges and future of learning

Our response can be downloaded from the resource section.

 

Women in Governance project

In 2008, GAP Unit researched the views and experiences of female councillors, focussing on the barriers, motivations and support structures which exist for women as they become active in public life.
 
The report, which can be downloaded from our resources section, also looks at the factors women feel detract from their ability to work effectively as local councillors, and the things that support and sustain them on a personal and practical level.
 
In addition, the participants shared their ideas on ways of encouraging and suppor1ng more women to enter public life. Fifty eight councillors took part, from 29 different local authorities across NW England, contributing via a written questionnaire, phone interview or focus group. Political parties represented: Liberal Democrats (37.5%), Labour (37.5%), Conservative (22%), Independent (4%).
 
The work was funded by North West Together We Can (NWTWC) network.

 

Arise & Shine! workshops and event

Between January and March 2009, the GAP Unit led self-esteem and group-building sessions with migrant, refugee and asylum seeker women’s organisations in Greater Manchester and Merseyside. The aim was to strengthen their identity as groups and facilitate discussion of the issues and problems they face as women who are creating new lives in a foreign country. Traumatic experiences typically precede their arrival in the UK, while their reception and treatment here has all-to-often been hostile or indifferent.
Saturday’s event was a chance for representatives these groups to come together in a unique celebration of the rich cultural heritage they bring to the region, and to empower one another through exchange of stories, strategies and contacts, including details of local and national campaigns and coalitions which are working to promote the rights of migrants.
The main workshop was a learning exchange based on the project outcomes of the previous months. It focussed questions such as: What are our needs? What keeps us going? What do UK authorities need to hear so policies can be more just and sensitive to our needs? How can we support each other? How can we build the future we want for ourselves and our families?
Then a sumptuous shared meal cooked by women from Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, China and Iran was followed by spontaneous singing, dancing and drumming. In an activity inspired by a poem written by one of the Arise and Shine! participants, the women adorned the bare branches of a painted tree with leaves bearing their hopes for the future.
Refugees and other migrant women have many ideas for simple actions which UK authorities could implement to make the immigration system more humane. The Arise and Shine! project is helping women consider what they can do together to make their voices heard and to support one another and future arrivals from their countries. A full project report, incorporating all the suggestions gathered between January and March and the outcomes of the Gathering, is forthcoming.
Thirty-four children, aged 4 months to 14 years, accompanied their mothers to the event. The majority of these women could not have attended without an on-site crèche generously financed by Oxfam UK Poverty Programme.
 
Women’s groups represented at the Arise and Shine! Gathering:
Merseyside Refugee & Asylum Seekers Pre & Post Natal Support Group (MRANG)
Wai Yin Chinese Women’s Postnatal Peer Group
Migrants Supporting Migrants
British Red Cross Women’s Integration and Support Group (WISP) – Manchester
British Red Cross Women’s Integration and Support Group (WISP) – Bolton
Bolton Refugee Action Gateway Protection Iraqi Women’s Group
Zimbabwe Women’s Organisation (ZIWO)
Women Asylum Seekers Together (WAST)
 

Gender and Regeneration course

A 26 hour course organised in partnership with Oxfam UK, RENEW NW and the Women’s Design Service. Attended by 15 participants from different North West public bodies.
 
The course, entitled Gender and Regeneration Community Engagement, Service Delivery and the Built Environment ran over 4 days in 2008 and covered:
 

• What is gender?
• Why does gender matter?
• What does the Public Sector Gender Duty mean for regeneration?
• Are men less likely to be involved in community activities? If so, why?
• Are women less likely to be involved in city-wide decision-making?
• Are women or men more at risk of poverty, and what can be done about this?
• How can we make sure public space and the built environment work well for both women and men?
• What can be done to ensure both men and women benefit fairly and appropriately from regeneration programmes?
 

Community training workshops

Women’s Empowerment training workshops
 
Short courses to help women gain confidence and skills and encourage them to have a greater involvement in civic processes, funded by North West Together We Can. Run in 2008 with: Women Asylum Seekers Together (WAST), Claremont Children’s Centre Mums’ group, Beacon’s Women’s Network, Levenshulme Sure Start parent’s group.
 
Gender and participation for community groups
 
One-off workshops aimed at increasing participants’ understanding of gender inequality. Looking at gender in relation to motivations for and obstacles to community engagement, and explore strategies for promoting gender equality. such workshops are planned.
 
All of our courses in 2007-8 were funded in 2008 by North West Together We Can