NWC

Women’s Organisations Network Manifesto: Responses from Candidates

1 July 2024

We sent all candidates standing in the General Election in Nottingham these six questions, about issues that women in Nottingham care about, alongside our Women’s Organisation Network manifesto.

Questions for candidates from the Women’s Organisation Network. 

With the completion of the independent review of the Nottingham Maternity Service, completed, how will you fix the maternal care scandal with attention to the disparity and additional risk for Black and minoritized women during pregnancy, labour and post-natal care?
Trauma can make us more vulnerable to developing mental health problems. Women who have experienced sexual assaults are currently experiencing astronomical waiting time to access trauma related support in Nottingham, leaving them at further risk of developing mental health problems. How do you plan to improve access to these crucial services?
How will you protect and support women’s organisations and groups in Nottinghamshire, who are at constant risk of closures due to funding cuts, increase in running costs, and high demand? Women’s organisations and groups are often best placed to deliver the right service, at the right time, to those who need it most, and need access to long-term ring-fenced funding for this work in order to continue supporting our communities.
How would you ensure women who are at the risk of offending or have offended receive appropriate rehabilitation and support in the community rather than in prisons which do not meet women’s needs or prevent re-offending? Especially for women on short sentences and considering that women are non-violent offenders?
What actions will you take to ensure safety for women across private, public and online? What prevention and support strategies would you advocate for to ensure all forms of violence against women is eliminated and survivors can access appropriate and timely support?
Many women are being prosecuted for their children’s non attendance in schools or experiencing punitive approaches that are shown to cause greater harm. How do you intend to deal with this issue in a way that supports women and their families rather than punishing them? What actions will you take to support families and schools to deal with issues of school attendance for children who are struggling?

Here are responses from candidates we heard back from.

Labour & Co-operative Candidate for Nottingham North & Kimberley

With the completion of the independent review of the Nottingham Maternity Service, how will you fix the maternal care scandal with attention to the disparity and additional risk for Black and minoritized women during pregnancy, labour and post-natal care?

The stories that have emerged in recent years following failings in maternity services have been truly shocking. The pain and anguish suffered by so many deserve a proper review and I was glad when Donna Ockenden was selected to lead the inquiry in Nottingham. Donna has been fearless in her pursuit of the facts and the truth of what happened to all of those who have been affected. Along with other local MPs, I am in regular contact with Donna as she provides updates on her work. I think it is important to not pre-empt any of Donna’s conclusions and wait for the full review to be published. The review is in regular contact with the NHS locally to ensure that as the review’s work progresses, lessons are learned and information shared with the NHS ensuring changes are implemented speedily.
Trauma can make us more vulnerable to developing mental health problems. Women who have experienced sexual assaults are currently experiencing astronomical waiting times to access trauma related support in Nottingham, leaving them at further risk of developing mental health problems. How do you plan to improve access to these crucial services?

After 14 years of mismanagement by the current Government, the NHS is on its knees. Whilst the pandemic placed the NHS under serious strain, waiting lists were at record high even before the pandemic struck. We are seeing the impact of this not just locally but right across the country too. Labour is determined to build an NHS fit for the future. We will reform the NHS so that mental health receives the same attention and focus as physical health. Labour will also bring waiting times down and intervene earlier. We will recruit an additional 8,500 new mental health staff to treat children and adults through our first term. As part of our mission to reduce the lives lost to suicide, these new staff will be specially trained to support people at risk.
How will you protect and support women’s organisations and groups in Nottinghamshire, who are at constant risk of closures due to funding cuts, increase in running costs, and high demand? Women’s organisations and groups are often best placed to deliver the right service, at the right time, to those who need it most, and need access to long-term ring-fenced funding for this work in order to continue supporting our communities.

In so many ways, after 14 years of the current Government, public services are crumbling. Too often it feels as if nothing seems to work in the country anymore. It will take time to fix these issues so Labour has been clear that if we are elected we will lead a decade of national renewal. To achieve this we have set out five bold missions to restore stability and change the country for the better. I hope this will provide a much better environment for women’s groups to operate in, with well-run public services and support provided where it is needed.
How would you ensure women who are at the risk of offending or have offended receive appropriate rehabilitation and support in the community rather than in prisons which do not meet women’s needs or prevent re-offending? Especially for women on short sentences and considering that women are non-violent offenders.

Prisons in England and Wales are in crisis. Judges are being advised to delay sentencing. Prisoners are being released early. And fewer dangerous criminals are locked up because of a lack of space.

Labour will act to reduce reoffending. We will work with prisons to improve offenders’ access to purposeful activity, such as learning, and ensure they create pre-release plans for those leaving custody. We will support prisons to link up with local employers and the voluntary sector to get ex-offenders into work. The children of those who are imprisoned are at far greater risk of being drawn into crime than their peers. We will ensure that those young people are identified and offered support to break the cycle.

After 14 years of chaotic reorganisations, the national probation service is also struggling to keep the public safe. A lack of co-ordination between prisons, probation and other local services also means prison-leavers are not getting the right support, raising the risk that they go straight back to crime. In some areas of the country, we have seen Labour Mayors pioneering a more joined-up approach to reduce reoffending. In Greater Manchester, probation is linked up with housing and health services to ensure offenders leaving custody receive the support they need. Labour will conduct a strategic review of probation governance, including considering the benefits of devolved models.
What actions will you take to ensure safety for women across private, public and online? What prevention and support strategies would you advocate for to ensure all forms of violence against women is eliminated and survivors can access appropriate and timely support?

Violence against women and girls is a stain on our society that shames all of us. For too long this issue has been ignored so Labour is determined to tackle it. That is why we have made it part of our mission to halve levels of violence against women and girls.

That starts with tougher enforcement and protection. With Labour, there will be specialist rape and sexual offences teams in every police force. The most prolific and harmful perpetrators will be relentlessly targeted, using tactics normally reserved for terrorists and organised crime.

Prosecution rates for rape are shamefully low with many victims dropping out of the justice system when faced with years of delays. Labour will fast-track rape cases, with specialist courts at every Crown Court location in England and Wales.

Victims deserve better support. Building on the success of the approach adopted by Labour Police and Crime Commissioners, we will introduce domestic abuse experts in 999 control rooms so that victims can talk directly to a specialist, and ensure there is a legal advocate in every police force area to advise victims from the moment of report to trial.

Violence and abuse against women and girls does not come from nowhere. Misogyny is one root cause, and therefore Labour will ensure schools address misogyny and teach young people about healthy relationships and consent. We will ensure police forces have the powers they need to track and tackle the problem.

Stalking has not been treated with the seriousness it deserves. Labour will strengthen the use of Stalking Protection Orders and give women the right to know the identity of online stalkers. Spiking is a devastating crime for victims, leaving many women feeling vulnerable when they go out. Labour will introduce a new criminal offence for spiking to help police better respond to this crime.

We will strengthen the rights and protections available to women in co-habiting couples, as well as for whistleblowers in the workplace, including on sexual harassment.
Many women are being prosecuted for their children’s non-attendance in schools or experiencing punitive approaches that are shown to cause greater harm. How do you intend to deal with this issue in a way that supports women and their families rather than punishing them? What actions will you take to support families and schools to deal with issues of school attendance for children who are struggling?

As the Chair of the Board of Governors at a local primary school, I know school absence is often a symptom of deeper problems in the education system. It important that we look at this issue in the round to ensure that every child receives the education they deserve.

For instance, one problem facing children is a lack of mental health support. I therefore support Labour’s plans to provide access to specialist mental health professionals in every school, so every young person has access to early support to address problems before they escalate.

Breakfast clubs can improve attendance, behaviour and learning. Labour will fund free breakfast clubs in every primary school, accessible to all children. This will also support parents through the cost-of-living crisis.

By addressing these other important issues, I believe we can develop a holistic approach to tackle school attendance problems and ensure every child receives a good education.

Independent Candidate for Nottingham South

With the completion of the independent review of the Nottingham Maternity Service, how will you fix the maternal care scandal with attention to the disparity and additional risk for Black and minoritized women during pregnancy, labour and post-natal care?

The biggest scandal in NHS history stands in Nottingham. As a mother of 7 children, I value the vital life saving services during the entire journey of pregnancy. I have faced difficult decisions with very little support during a time, when I was informed to expect a neo natal death or at best a baby that would not expect to survive beyond a few weeks. I share your concerns and would do everything in my power to support all women facing any maternity related issues. I would like to propose a special task force set up for maternity related complaints, these would be picked up at the first point of a distressed call being made and women would not be placed in a queue to jump through many hurdles in order for their complaint to be heard. The Ockendon enquiry talks about professionals not listening to families. There needs to be accountability. Those charged with breaching their duty of care need to be prosecuted. Its as simple as that. Our lives and that of our unborn or newly born child are to be protected at all costs.

A dedicated hotline number should be available for those using maternity services 24 hours a day, dedicated to listening to those using maternity services and trouble shooting problems.

The ratio of midwives per patient should also be addressed. So midwives are not understaffed or left rushing around looking after too many patients. I have also spoken with nursing students, who claim that securing a place at university for midwifery is very competitive and many future midwives are prevented from joining the profession.
Trauma can make us more vulnerable to developing mental health problems. Women who have experienced sexual assaults are currently experiencing astronomical waiting times to access trauma related support in Nottingham, leaving them at further risk of developing mental health problems. How do you plan to improve access to these crucial services?

I have 10 years experience of working on an acute mental health ward. I am on the frontline facing patients and their families. I therefore fully appreciate the concerns you are raising. Many patients and their families complain how difficult it is to access mental health support. This is even more difficult as a female and also if you belong to a minority community.

I am proposing for GP surgeries to be able to offer in-house mental health services, rather than sending vulnerable women to services where the waiting list is just too long. It is not acceptable that vulnerable women should be waiting as long as they are to access some basic support. I have personally referred women to Nottingham’s women’s centre. The ladies have given me very positive feedback of the support you have offered them. There’s another lady that I’ll be signposting over to yourselves. If elected I will ensure that funds are ring fenced for Nottingham’s Women’s Centre and I will champion all the work that you do. Women suffering from trauma, abuse, discrimination, and violence should be prioritised.
How will you protect and support women’s organisations and groups in Nottinghamshire, who are at constant risk of closures due to funding cuts, increase in running costs, and high demand? Women’s organisations and groups are often best placed to deliver the right service, at the right time, to those who need it most, and need access to long-term ring-fenced funding for this work in order to continue supporting our communities.

Fundamentally, I will advocate for funds to be ring fenced for women’s organisations who have a track record of delivering on the ground. I have worked with POW during my time at New Deal for Communities as a community engagement worker. I have also signposted ladies that I know to Juno Women’s Aid. I have also been the head of an Asian women’s group consisting of almost 150 ladies. They regularly speak to me about their issues, and I am always signposting them to women’s groups for support. Therefore, I will be making women’s issues at the top of my priorities. I will ensure you get the funding you so need.
How would you ensure women who are at the risk of offending or have offended receive appropriate rehabilitation and support in the community rather than in prisons which do not meet women’s needs or prevent re-offending? Especially for women on short sentences and considering that women are non-violent offenders.

I believe there is no safe place in prisons for ladies who are pregnant.

Alternative arrangements need to be made for women to serve their non violent, short term sentences from a place of safety. They should be offered counselling and rehabilitation within a safe place where a working relationship is formed to support them. There should be a medical team, probation and social workers involved in this. The needs of the unborn child also need to be prioritised. Root causes to their issues need to be identified and appropriate and targeted support given in a timely manner. I believe such a package should be known as, “Caring for offenders”. I believe nobody sets out to be a criminal; its their social and economic environment that leads some women to engage in criminal activity. I believe an attitude shift is needed in treating root causes of criminal behaviour, which hopefully will lead to a drop in reoffending. I do believe some women are victims and not criminals, they are acting from a place of desperation, therefore those individuals should be identified and supported, so they do not reoffend.
What actions will you take to ensure safety for women across private, public and online? What prevention and support strategies would you advocate for to ensure all forms of violence against women is eliminated and survivors can access appropriate and timely support?

Misogyny should be addressed very early in schools; I believe education is the way forward. I believe a new innovative approach is needed, whereby there are male ambassadors right across the public, private and voluntary sector to challenge peer bias and coercive controlling behaviour. For our male ambassadors to be present in the workplace, in the same way we have first aiders. Gender bias and prejudice impact on how safe women feel. Women who suffer from domestic violence need specialist support, which is best provided by women’s organisations. I believe the police should prioritise domestic violence and the courts should hand tougher sentences; the threshold for CPS should be set at a level that cases can be prosecuted and the burden of proof should not be set so unrealistically high, that no prosecution can be made. I will work with the police crime commissioner to look into this.
Many women are being prosecuted for their children’s non-attendance in schools or experiencing punitive approaches that are shown to cause greater harm. How do you intend to deal with this issue in a way that supports women and their families rather than punishing them? What actions will you take to support families and schools to deal with issues of school attendance for children who are struggling?

Punitive measures should only be applied as a last resort. For parents who consistently show no interest in their child’s education and future, they should face up to their responsibilities and as such I support the measures that are already in place.

However, we have single mums who are struggling in extraordinary circumstances and desperately need help and support. There are other instances when young children are pushing boundaries, here I believe parents need support and the schools need to show sympathy and work with single mothers to support them through these difficult times. As a former parent governor, I understand the legal duty schools have on enforcing attendance. Having faced these truancy officers myself, I fully sympathise with mothers who are put through this ordeal. We have all been there, there is always one black sheep in the family, who takes it upon themselves to be as wild as they possibly can be. Lets work together and get through this. I am here to support you through these challenges, and will do everything I can to be of real assistance.

Labour Candidate for Nottingham East

With the completion of the Independent Review of the Nottingham Maternity Service, how will you fix the maternal care scandal with attention to the disparity and additional risk for Black and minoritized women during pregnancy, labour and post-natal care?

While I don’t want to prejudge the outcome of Donna Ockenden’s review, which is due in September next year, she has been sharing learning and recommendations from her work with NUH as she has carried it out. I have met regularly with both Donna and the senior leadership at NUH to receive updates on the review, communicate feedback from constituents, and hold the trust to account over the improvements that still need to be made – for example, inequality in the provision of care. I would continue to do this if re-elected.

I want to see the next government implement all the essential actions recommended in the two reports into the Shrewsbury maternity scandal. These must include tackling staff shortages and putting more money into maternity services.

I also think action on maternal health inequality is a key priority. In April 2023, the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee’s ‘Black maternal health’ report identified multiple, complex causes for disparities in maternal mortality, including pre-existing health conditions, socio-economic factors like deprivation, and bias and racism in the healthcare system. Action to tackle all of these must take place. I support the Five X More campaign and their calls for more research into maternal health outcomes of Black women. I believe that medical professionals should receive compulsory targeted training that addresses the needs of women of colour.

I am pleased that Labour has committed to ensuring that trusts failing on maternity care are robustly supported into rapid improvement. We will also train thousands more midwives as part of the NHS Workforce Plan and set an explicit target to close the Black and Asian maternal mortality gap.
Trauma can make us more vulnerable to developing mental health problems. Women who have experienced sexual assaults are currently experiencing astronomical waiting times to access trauma related support in Nottingham, leaving them at further risk of developing mental health problems. How do you plan to improve access to these crucial services?

Support for those who have experienced trauma is something I care deeply about. I was forced to seek private treatment for PTSD myself due to the lengthy waits for NHS-provided support. As an MP, I regularly received casework from people who have been waiting months or even years to access specialist mental health support.

Labour has committed to bringing mental health waiting times down. We will recruit an additional 8,500 new staff in our first term. While further details are yet to be set out, it is vital that these should include specialists in sexual violence and trauma-related support.

I also recognise that specialist women’s organisations are often best placed to provide or host this support, and so sustainable funding for the sector is crucial.
How will you project and support women’s organisations and groups in Nottinghamshire, who are at constant risk of closures due to funding cuts, increase in running costs, and high demand? Women’s organisations and groups are often best placed to deliver the right service, at the right time, to those who need it most, and need access to long-term ring-fenced funding for this work in order to continue supporting our communities.

I have been outspoken against the cuts to women’s organisations over the last 14 years, especially those that provide support to women who have experienced domestic abuse and sexual violence.

I support sustainable, long-term, ring-fenced funding being provided to women’s organisations and groups and would advocate for this as an MP.
How would you ensure that women who are at risk of offending or have offended receive appropriate rehabilitation and support in the community rather than in prisons which do not meet women’s needs or prevent re-offending? Especially for women on short sentences and considering that women are non-violent offenders?

The statistics on prison leavers re-offending speak for themselves: it is clear that prisons are not rehabilitating those who have committed crimes, with many people being sucked deeper into a cycle of re-offending instead.

Labour has committed to working with prisons to improve offenders’ access to purposeful activity, such as learning, and ensure they create pre-release plans for those leaving custody. A Labour government would support prisons to link up with local employers and the voluntary sector to get ex-offenders into work.

I would like to see a greater use of alternative sentences to prison, especially for non-violent offenders. I have also supported campaigns against births in prison, for the decriminalisation of sex work, the repeal of laws criminalising those who are homeless, the reform of drug-related offences, the decriminalisation of abortion and against the prosecution of parents for their child’s non-attendance.
What actions will you take to ensure safety for women across private, public and online? What prevention and support strategies would you advocate for to ensure all forms of violence against women is eliminated and survivors can access appropriate and timely support?

Labour’s landmark mission is to halve violence against women and girls in a decade through a wide range of measures. One of the most important, from my perspective, is about tackling the root causes: Labour will ensure that schools address misogyny and teach young people about healthy relationships and consent.

A Labour government would also fast-tracking rape cases, with specialist courts at every Crown Court location, to end the scandal of victims waiting years to their case to be heard. We would introduce domestic abuse experts in 999 control rooms and ensure there is a legal advocate in every police force area to advise victims from the moment of report to trial.

As mentioned in a previous answer, I am also keen that those who have experienced violence are able to get the support they need quickly. This means ensuring that specialist organisations and services have the funding they need and increasing the number of mental health staff working in this area.
Many women are being prosecuted for their children’s non attendance in schools or experiencing punitive approaches that are shown to cause greater harm. How do you intend to deal with this issue in a way that supports women and their families rather than punishing them? What actions will you take to support families and schools to deal with issues of school attendance for children who are struggling?

I know that almost all parents whose children have low attendance rates believe it is important that their child attends school and would like their attendance to improve. Punitive approaches have been shown to be ineffective and even counterproductive: they fail to address the root causes of why a child might not attend school.

Crucial for improving many children’s attendance is effective mental health support. Labour will provide access to specialist mental health professionals in every school, so every young person has access to early support to address problems before they escalate. A Labour government would also introduce Young Futures Hubs, to make sure every community has an open-access hub for children and young people with drop-in mental health support.

Another of Labour’s flagship policies, free breakfast clubs in every primary school, aims to help improve attendance, and I’m pleased that Labour will reinstate the School Support Staff Negotiating Body to help address the acute recruitment and retention crisis in support roles.

For children and young people with persistent non-attendance, I would like to see a supportive rather than punitive approach, with schools working with parents, mental health professionals, SEND specialists, youth workers and others to develop specialist plans which target the root causes of a child’s non-attendance, rather than prosecuting their parents.

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NOTTINGHAM WOMEN’S ORGANISATIONS NETWORK MANIFESTO

21 June 2024

The Women’s Organisations Network presents our manifesto, which contains proposals for achievable change to improve the lives of women and girls in Nottinghamshire and beyond.

We ask all political parties to ensure that women and girls are at the heart of their General Election campaigning and that women’s voices are listened to in policy and practice by Government.

The Women’s Organisations Network (WON) is the largest coalition of women’s organisations in Nottinghamshire. With over 100 members, WON works to foster a cohesive and joined up approach to change the lives and future of women and girls in our communities and beyond. This manifesto was developed by a steering group of five organizations (Nottingham Women’s Centre, Juno Women’s Aid, Equation, Nottinghamshire Sexual Violence Support Services, and POW Nottingham) incorporating contributions from WON member organisations, survey responses from our wider network of women, and current research on women.

This manifesto includes and supports the policy asks of many other women’s organisations and coalitions nationally that we are connected to – the #SheVotes24 Coalition, the National Women’s Justice Coalition, Agenda Alliance, Women’s Resource Centre, End Violence Against Women Coalition, Women’s Budget Group, and Rape Crisis England and Wales amongst others.

We stand in solidarity with all women and girls, who make up 51% of the population and who so far in this election campaign have heard very little about the issues that affect their lives and how the changes proposed will benefit them.

NOTTINGHAM WOMEN’S ORGANISATIONS NETWORK MANIFESTO Download

DOWNLOAD A COMPRESSED VERSION OF THE MANIFESTO

We present our six questions for all General Election candidates from all parties in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

Our Questions for GE Candidates Download

Surviving to Thriving

14 June 2024

November 5, 2024 @ 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Surviving to Thriving is a group for women who have experienced domestic abuse, and feel they could benefit from a safe space to understand what has happened to them to help them move forwards with their lives.

Over 8 weekly sessions the group will explore the impact of abuse, helping to identify and understand the feelings and responses associated with trauma, and how to deal with them.

The group will be facilitated by Laura Griffin, a qualified psychotherapist. There will be space to reflect on personal experiences and feelings in a safe and compassionate space; to learn about the impact of trauma, and to explore how to make positive changes.

The course runs on Tuesdays from 10am-12pm

Start Date: 17th September 2024

More info & FAQs

FREE

Essential Election Information

13 June 2024

Have you registered to vote in the upcoming General Election on 4^th July? It only takes five minutes to get registered! Five minutes is an excellent investment in time for the change we want to see in government!

Here is our essential checklist of dates and links, counting down to the big day!!

Register to vote by 18^th June
Register to vote anonymously by 18^th June
Apply for a postal vote by 19^th June
Apply for a proxy vote by 26^th June
Apply for your Voter Authority Certificate if you need accepted photo ID by 26^th June
Postal votes must be received by 4^th July
Vote in person on 4^th July, the General Election!!

Need More Help?

Nottingham Women’s Centre is encouraging more women to VOTE in the upcoming July 4^th election, so if you need help registering to vote, please speak to NWC Reception or pick up a paper registration form at the Centre. It only takes five minutes to register!

You will need:

Your personal details, name, address and date of birth.
National Insurance number (if you have one).
You may also need your passport if you’re living abroad.

Safety Concerns?

If you think your name and address being on the electoral register could affect your safety, you can vote anonymously.

Want to Vote by Post?

You don’t need a special reason to vote by post. It’s simply your choice. It’s for everyone and can make it more convenient. Busy and don’t want to queue up on the day? Vote by post! No childcare cover on the day? Vote by post! But plan ahead and register to vote by post today!

First Time Voter?

Are you a first-time voter, check what you need to know here in this handy guide!

Want to find your local team?

Local electoral registration team for Nottingham City:

Electoral Registration Officer

Loxley House

Station Street

NG2 3NG

http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/

0115 8764111

elections@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

If you do not live in Nottingham city, you can find your local electoral team here.

Growing at AMC Gardens

5 June 2024

October 25, 2024 @ 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Join us at Arkwright Meadows Community (AMC) Gardens for a welcoming women’s group and a chance to do some growing.

Why not bring a picnic and enjoy the relaxing outdoor space? There’s also sheltered space in the polytunnel if the weather doesn’t hold up! Tea and cake are provided too!

To book, get in touch with NWC reception via email or phone:

reception@nottinghamwomenscentre.com

0115 941 1475

Find AMC Gardens on Google Maps

Women United 2024!

28 May 2024

We have a really special event coming up this weekend. It’s the Women United 2024 football tournament, which takes place every year to fundraise for Nottingham Women’s Centre in Tara Newbold’s name.

We wanted to tell you all a bit more about why this event is so important to us, and the amazing impact that Women United’s fundraising has had over the years.

Women United was founded in 2018. Raising funds for Nottingham Women’s Centre through a women’s football tournament and huge raffle in memory of Tara Newbold.

Tara was a family member & friend to those who organise the tournament. Tragically, Tara lost her life as the result of domestic violence in October 2016, and as a group they wanted to turn something devastating into a positive in Tara’s name.

The trophy teams are playing for is the Tara Newbold memorial cup and Tara’s Mum will once again be presenting the trophy to the winning team on the day.

With the help of their amazing supporters Women United have contributed to the vital work we do, creating a safe and supportive space for all women, including those experiencing domestic violence and abuse. By supporting this event you really do make a difference.

Over the years, Women United have raised an incredible £12,021.68 since the first tournament back in 2018! This year the group have set a very specific target amount to raise – £2,978.32, taking the total raised since the beginning to £15,000!!!

We wanted to share some of the truly inspiring feedback from those accessing our support. These quotes really show what an amazing impact the work here at NWC has had on the lives of women.

We’ve also heard from those delivering the support about how the funds raised have helped them continue the amazing work they do.

We hope you can join us on the day to show your support!! Whether as a player or spectator, it should be lots of fun! There’ll be plenty of game time, a friendly atmosphere, epic raffle prizes, pitch side snacks, and legendary post-game celebrations!!

You can also show your support in the best way by purchasing some raffle tickets to help fundraise. You can buy raffle tickets in person on the day of the event, or by popping into Nottingham Women’s Centre ahead of the day, or by heading over to Women United’s Facebook page and following the link to their Local Giving page.

We look forward to seeing you there!!! Thanks again for your support, especially to Women United for your incredible fundraising over the years!! We couldn’t do it without you!!

Women United 2024

JOIN US ON THE DAY!!

Fundraising Friends Finish Inflatable 5K

13 May 2024

Our amazing caseworker Joanna and her fab friends took part in the Inflatable 5K last month.

They were raising money for our Crisis Fund, which helps provide vital support for women in Nottingham.

Joanna (right) and her friends at the finish line

Hear about Joanna and her friends’ adventures completing the course…

On 13^th April my friends and I completed the Inflatable 5K to help raise funds for Nottingham Women’s Centre’s (NWC) Crisis Fund. I wanted to do something for fitness and fun, and to help others. Alongside me were a team of 3 mums and their 3 children. As we set off the weather was good, and so were the friends I ran with. They breezed through the course, but I quickly realised I’d been left behind! My friend’s son decided to hang back and we walked it together.

Clamouring over giant inflatables, which was lots of fun if a little bit risky! Swinging over one obstacle, crawling through tunnels, dodging holes, racing past inflatable hammers, or stepping round inflatable pillars which bounce back almost knocking me out, up huge steps, down huge steps, running and jumping over inflatable walls!! I was lucky not to lose a shoe or pick up an injury!! I then realised we had to do the course twice!

We had lots of fun and banter as we went round again. Through bungy wires and over inflatables, we made it to the finish sliding down a giant inflatable bouncy castle slide for a photo. Even if it was 10 minutes after everyone else! It made for a really fun day! As a team we raised over £600 for NWC’s Crisis Fund. Thank you to all our supporters for all the generous and kind donations.

Joanna's finish line slide — Joanna’s finish line slide

It was a great day, a lot of fun to be running through the inflatable obstacles with friends and family. I’m proud of raising money for Nottingham Women’s Centre as it’s such a worthy cause.
Tamsin

A well deserved medal and an amazing effort! — Joanna with a very well deserved medal! What an amazing effort!

Well done Joanna and friends!! Incredible effort all round, and we’re so grateful to you all for your support!

If you would like to take on a fun challenge to raise some much-needed funds to support women in Nottingham, have a look at our Fundraising page!

DONATE TO NOTTINGHAM WOMEN’S CENTRE

She Votes: Women’s Hustings

1 May 2024

What did we hear from the candidates?

We were pleased to welcome candidates standing to be East Midlands Mayor and Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) to our hustings on Wednesday 24th April. Ahead of the event, we published our Women’s Manifesto, setting out our demands for what we would like to see from the newly elected Mayor and from the PCC across the areas that they will have influence over.

Our CEO Vandna was chairing:

“Our mission at Nottingham Women’s Centre is to enable women to reach their full potential. To have their voices heard and overcome barriers to creating a better future for themselves. To achieve this, engaging in the political process is an imperative. Women have fought long and hard for the right to vote. A staple of every election in discussion is of women’s votes, as if women are distinct from the normal vote. Given that women make up 51% of the UK’s population, they are an even greater proportion of eligible voters. And they are just as likely to vote as men. The average voter is in fact a woman. So those standing for elected positions here today would be best advised not to ignore our potential for driving election results!” 

Questions to The Police and Crime Commissioner Candidates:

How will you ensure women’s voices are listened to in improving the experiences of women when they interact with the Police? 

All candidates started with outlining their experience, background, and key priorities for the role, which you can read about on their websites.

Key points from their answers are summarised below: 

Gary Godden

Tackling violence against women and girls is a key pledge.
Specialist staff in control rooms along with a Labour national pledge to implement ‘Raneem’s Law’.

“I don’t know if you’ve heard the name Raneem and the story of how she called the police 13 times, and guess what? She ended up being murdered. Not good enough on my watch. That’s not good enough. It’s not acceptable.” 

Making sure women’s services are supported and women are believed – working with women’s organisations to make sure that if a woman or girl comes to the police with a complaint, they are believed.

“My job is to hold the police to account, and I will make sure that that happens.” 

Increase conviction rates in line with Labour’s national targets 
Support resources for women coming out of prison or experiencing domestic violence and abuse

Caroline Henry 

Caroline talked about her achievements in her current role as Police and Crime Commissioner and outlined the following: 

A violence against women and girls strategy developed in collaboration with different organisations and groups .

Prevention:

“We all know that we’ve got to prevent crimes from happening in the first place and I’m passionate about early intervention and going into schools, and for the first time we’ve been funding through Equation a programme called GREAT”

Response:

“I want to make sure that if somebody rings the police, first of all they are believed, they are supported and they are really listened to. That’s really important. And also I want to make sure we capture best evidence which is why I invested in a new sexual assault research referral centre and also a children’s sexual assault referral centre. So we capture best evidence when needed and respond.”

Support – introducing ‘opt out’ rather than opt in for victim services and supporting the role of independent sexual violence support. 
Support for hard-to-reach communities to be able to report to the police, such as for those with English as a second language, and Deaf communities .

David Watts 

Need to completely change the male dominated culture to enable women’s voices to be heard.

“And that change has to be at every level of the police. So it means not just that bobby on the beat, but their supervisors have to make sure that that sort of attitude is not accepted” 

Training for police officers to listen to and believe victims.
Root out police officers who will not change.

“And say sorry, but that is not good enough. It is not acceptable to have misogynistic behaviour within the police.” 

Role of the PCC is to hold the police to account

“If things don’t change, then that’s a failure of the Police and Crime Commissioner.”

We have summarised key quotes from their answers below:

Caroline Henry

“I’m really sorry about that experience and none of that has been brought to my attention before. Surviving economic abuse is a massive issue. Absolutely needs more training. Obviously been a mistake there. Happy to look into it. There’s been a lot to do and I’m sorry that’s not been on my radar. It will be, going forward as well.”

“The way to solve this is a whole system approach like I spoke of before about preventing crimes from happening in the first place. Changing violent behaviour, so women feel safe to walk down the street, getting allies and bystanders to step in because there is a plan. It’s part of the budget that’s put in place for 2024. It’s already in place. We are increasing labour but it’s a whole system approach.”

Gary Godden

“We talk about training. Police officers are trained, but this is about accountability, and this is about holding the Chief Constable to account and if we don’t have that confidence, then we lose confidence in terms of our communities and you in your homes. It’s really important to try and understand and work with the training aspect of the police, but it’s also more important that those police officers that don’t want to toe the line or follow that path, or feel that the training isn’t appropriate, then they are removed. I’ve worked in the police; I’ve seen behaviours that I do not condone. And one of the reasons that I’m here today is because of that experience and because I want to make a change, I want to make that difference. It was exactly because of that institutionalisation. I went into the police when I was 32 years old. I’ve lived a life. Some of my experiences within the police have led me to being here today, and part of that experience is about being able to challenge them because they don’t like to be called out, which I did in the police in 2015. But this is about accountability. And for me, it comes from the top. It comes from the Police and Crime Commissioner holding the Chief to account.”

“For me part of the issue with Nottinghamshire and the lack of confidence in the safety of Nottinghamshire, is that there’s no police officers. We don’t have police on the street, so we will be looking to rebuild policing. This is about how we work more collaboratively and in trying to raise money within our current system. There’s lots of people that I talk to at the moment, they don’t seem to have that access. That’s got to come back on the table. To be able to deliver a neighbourhood policing plan that actually fits the community for service is not complex. It’s actually about communication and knowing your communities and being able to talk to police officers when you want one.”

David Watts

“So that’s a 16 year failure by the police and unfortunately it’s not at all uncommon… As I mentioned at the start, it’s changing that culture within the police and it has to be zero tolerance of the police. You cannot behave like that. And if you do, you are out. I do not accept the explanation that it’s hard to get rid of police officers. If the will is there, the way is there and you can get rid of bad police officers. Now what we need are good police officers. That needs to be at every level, not only the officers on the ground, but those who supervise them insisting on those standards and making sure that things are done properly. The other bit of your question that hasn’t been addressed yet is the police in special measures. But I think the answer is the same. It’s insisting on improvement at every level of the police and that is a key job of the Police and Crime Commissioner. It’s not going to be just sat in an office and filling in forms and looking good for leaflets, but it’s going to be out there in the community talking to people, talking about their real experiences and making sure that does not happen.”

“Get police on the beat so that people know there is a police officer around. I was talking to the National Farmers Union yesterday and they were complaining that in the north of the county they never ever see police officers. That’s absolutely wrong. We need to make sure that every community has police officers. One way of making sure that improves is making sure the police have accounts. I did a freedom of information request a couple of weeks ago about the number of or the percentage of domestic burglaries that the police in Nottinghamshire respond to. They are not holding them accountable in terms of the number of incidents and the way that they’re responded to. It is a way of making sure that the streets are improved. How long is it going to take? It’s an ongoing thing. There will never be a state where we say, well, we have achieved that unless we get to a state where there is no crime and I probably can’t promise that, but we should see early improvement by getting officers out there and by people seeing them.”

Questions to the Mayoral candidates 

How will you make sure women and women’s organisations will be involved in shaping the priorities of the new combined authority? 

All candidates started with outlining their experience, background, and key priorities for the role, which you can read about on their websites.

Key points from their answers are summarised below: 

Matt Relf

Bring an independent approach to the mayoral role that is based on consensus and agreement.

“It is far more important to have somebody who is able to speak up when it is right to speak up but is able to agree when it is right to agree rather than having predispositions as to what position they should take based upon pre-existing animosities between different political parties” 

Support asks in the She Votes Manifesto on drive to bring more women into certain industries.
Housing – try to grow the housing stock available while also lobbying for change on the funding available for social housing.  
Transport – improve accessibility, coordination between different modes of transport and connectivity with integrated ticketing. Design accessibility in for wheelchairs, prams and buggies. 
Culture and working practices of the new authority – utilise existing council headquarters so people across the region can work for the authority, flexible working to enable people to fit work around their lives and childcare.

Alan Graves

Would abolish the Combined Authority and Mayoral role.

We actually have an East Midlands Secretary of State and they should actually be doing this work 

Frank Adlington-Stringer

Leader for men in confronting misogyny and calling out abusive behaviour .
Green industrial revolution with a complete overhaul of transport system and making it public .
Investing in youth services.
Adult education – investing in sustainable and future technologies.
Housing – affordable and sustainable homes.
Citizens assemblies as a way to give everyone a seat at the table.

“As your mayor, I’m not just going to sit and listen to business or to other politicians, but make sure that people like me and you, voters, those who are actually affected by our policies, have a real way of coming into the Mayor’s office and making their voice heard.” 

Free menstrual products.
Accessible and beautiful public spaces including toilets.
Set up LGBTQIA+ accreditation for venues.
Progressive employer – paid menstrual leave and 4 day working week.

Helen Tamblyn-Saville 

“Women are not represented and that has to change and that’s one of the reasons I’m sat here in front of you today. I want to hear your voices. I want to work with women’s groups. I want women’s perspective to shape policy.” 

Housing as a priority – Increase in social housing and ensuring that safe homes are available to women fleeing domestic abuse. Building energy efficient homes for Net Zero but also to bring down energy costs.  
Transport – own experiences of a lack of family friendly transport. Audit for accessibility e.g. to look at step free access. Integrated simplified ticketing that works better for families, tying into Net Zero by 2030. 
Work with women’s groups to put in place free transport when fleeing to safety.
Grassroots approach.

Claire Ward 

“There are more mayors named Andy than there are women mayors”

Pledges shaped by listening including visits to women’s groups.
Transport in East Midlands currently inconsistent – connect communities by expanding public transport to rural areas and outside the city. Fare caps in the region 
Make childcare part of our infrastructure using the adult education budget – addressing the challenges of juggling childcare and job hunting.

“And that’s why childcare for me is a huge part of what we need to do, and my pledge is about raising childcare to a level as a part of our infrastructure. It is important to getting everyone back into work and to getting those opportunities for skills, as it is when we provide transport, or we provide those extra skills.” 

Investment in a Green Growth Skills Fund

“So that we can have digital skills and skills to retrofit our homes because if we can retrofit our homes, if we can have new homes that are more low carbon or zero carbon, more energy efficient, we can start to tackle some of the fuel poverty that we see across our communities.” 

Support high street and new green technologies – use of apprenticeships to make sure women and girls are part of these industries.

Here is our summary of quotes from their answers:

Matt Relf

“For me the proof is in the pudding. You know we need to get out there and deliver services in a fair and equitable way that is very clearly not built on prejudice… I do think it’s a real shame that we even within this debate, we’re sort of saying, you know, we have to have a woman at the top to care about women. Well, I’m sorry. That’s a prejudice against me that I couldn’t possibly care… We need to get away from this prejudice position and make sure we are delivering services that are visibly equitable for all and I think it is when you start doing that that people then start building the trust in what you’re doing and a big part of that is communication. You know, we don’t do enough communication of public services. To explain how we’re going about. You know, this election itself has been really poorly communicated. Very few people out there are even aware it’s on next week and what it even means. You know that I’m forever getting comments saying, you know, what are you doing about this? Well, it’s nothing to do with the combined authority. It will stay with the existing councils. And so we need to do a much better job of communicating with our society about what all these democratic roles do, how we go about it, and how you can influence what we are doing in the decision making. That feedback loop of input to result is what builds trust.”

Alan Graves

“All I can say is that I’ve been a local councillor for a long time and I’ve engaged with women for many, many years and it’s quite important that you do that. It’s about what you actually do and what I actually do is I engage with people. I believe in equality, so it’s it doesn’t matter who comes to me. I have to engage with them. I don’t ignore women. I don’t ignore men. I don’t ignore anybody. If somebody comes to me with a problem, you engage with them. I engage with the women’s refuge in in my local area. Very important. It’s very important in lots of ways because obviously when a refuge has to be fairly secret and you know you’ve got to be sensitive to those sorts of issues, but I also engage with the local rehab. It’s about listening to people and engaging directly with them and finding out what their problems are. And let’s see what we can do to solve them.”

Frank Adlington-Stringer

“Trust is built through honesty, and that comes from both directions. We need you to be honest with us as politicians, but also as politicians, we have to be honest with you. I’ve been elected in North East Derbyshire since last year. I have put every single one of my pay slips online available. For anyone to see. I have said that when I become mayor, I will continue to show that and I will only take an average wage, take £38,000 a year rather than the full amount, because I believe people are suffering and I should stand with my communities.”

“I’m trying to take tangible steps to make sure that I’m standing with people. I’ve said already that I’ll set up Citizens Assemblies. What is a Citizens Assembly? That is a forum for you to come to the mayor’s office and to speak to us, and I will make sure that that space is as diverse as possible. It isn’t just a space where those who are politically engaged can turn up. We’re making sure that people from all backgrounds are coming along and able to participate. Because I don’t have all the answers, none of us do. Of course not. But what we’re here to do is speak up on your behalf.”

Helen Tamblyn-Saville 

“People don’t trust politicians particularly right now. I mean, we’ve seen a certain previous Prime Minister who apparently couldn’t stop lying. It’s no wonder that trust has gone. But we also need you to be honest with us as well… We need to listen to you. An elected mayor needs to listen to you. To truly represent you, we need you to be honest with us. We have these hustings so that you can hear from us. And also so that you can scrutinise us later. Are we doing what we said we would do? And as your mayor, I would carry on those conversations. I don’t just want to listen to you. I want to engage with you. I want you to tell me if I’m doing stuff wrong and what I can be doing better. So if elected, I would pledge to come and meet with you and hear from you. Hear your experiences, hear what’s happening. But more than that, scrutinise me. Say to me, Helen, you pledged this. What’s happening? Where are we? Hold me to account. Hold us all to account. We have to build up that trust. I talked about a grassroots up approach and there shouldn’t be grandstanding from the top down. It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach.”

Claire Ward

“I think people feel really disengaged with politics and I get it. Particularly the last 14 years, what we’ve seen is Westminster politicians doing something and then telling us to do something else…And our country feels broken. Our local councils certainly feel broken. Our roads are broken, our cars feel like they’re broken. Certainly, if you’re driving across them. And because of that, our confidence and trust in the democratic institutions and in the way in which we communicate to those politicians, it was broken. And I sat outside of that for the last 13 years and the reason why I’m standing now is because I want to bring a different approach to it.”

“I don’t want to make promises to people that I can’t deliver… The reality is there is so much wrong right now that we have to do things differently, and we have to engage with people, and we have to collaborate in order to make this work. So my commitment is to do that with whoever. And wherever it takes me. And that’s not just with the community. But I know if I’m elected next week, Ben Bradley is the Conservative leader of the County Council, and will still be the Conservative leader of the County Council afterwards, and I’ll still have to work with him. And that is something that everybody needs to understand is that the way in which we get change is by having that ambition to say this region is going to be the best place to live in, to work in, to learn in. And that means no stone will be left unturned, but we will have to work together to deliver it and it will take a lot of work.”

Whatever you do, don’t forget to vote in the East Midlands Mayor, and Police and Crime Commissioner elections tomorrow, Thursday 2nd May 2024!! Your vote is your voice! Use your vote to choose a better future for all women in the East Midlands!

Find out where to vote…

Find out what ID to bring…

Women Voters Will Make the Difference this Election Year!

4 April 2024

Our incredible volunteer Penny has written about her insightful experience attending the events we’ve hosted recently about politics in the UK.

Hands up if you find politics a confusing place to be?

Sometimes it feels like you need a degree in political science just to understand even a part of what’s happening at a national level, and that’s before taking into consideration local politics. There are so many questions, like how does an MP differ from a councillor?, who’s making all the decisions?, and how do we know who to vote for and when?, and the answers aren’t always that easy to find out online or in papers, which seem to rely on a level of understanding that many of us weren’t taught in any formal setting.

This year there’s a general election (when all the country votes to appoint a new government, and 650 MPs are to be elected), but did you know that there are some Nottinghamshire elections are happening this May?! In fact, the first ever elections for a Mayor of the East Midlands, and the Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner will take place on Thursday 2nd May.

An elected mayor should give the East Midlands a voice at a national level to make the case for much greater investment from both government and private sector.

The mayoral elections for the East Midlands and the Police Crime Commissioner (PPC) elections are happening in May, but the Nottinghamshire local councillor elections are not; that would be too easy! Taking all of this into consideration, it’s a real minefield. But with women making up over half of the electorate, it’s an important time for us to flex our voting muscles and help shape the future of the UK both on a local and national level.

That’s why Nottingham Women’s Centre has been arranging sessions to help all women understand the political system a little better: how to vote, why we should vote – especially as women – and what our vote could mean. There have also been sessions on what Parliament does; what the House of Commons is, and how it differs from the House of Lords.

I’ve attended the past two sessions, the first – We Vote! Women in Nottinghamshire! being an introduction into voting, focusing on a woman’s right to vote. We also covered the basics of national politics, with quizzes and a question-and-answer session so we could learn even more about who is in power at a national level, and how our vote can change the future of the country. We also discussed our ability to vote – how to do it, what to bring to the polling centre and how to vote by post, which gives you a longer window of time to submit your polling card.

The second session, Get to Know Women Councillors in Nottinghamshire gave us the chance to sit in a room with some incredibly inspiring and passionate women. Women are incredible: we’re not perfect but we’re brave and strong and resilient, while also being caring and wise. Why wouldn’t we want more women in politics?

Although local women councillors from all the political parties were invited, each of the eight councillors who chose to attend were all Labour. Nottingham is historically a Red (Labour) city. All of the women councillors who attended brought their own stories to the event and shared with us how they came to stand for local council, what being a councillor means to them, and how they found being women in politics.

It turns out our Nottingham councillors are an inspiring bunch. For instance, Councillor Faith Gakanje-Ajala came to the UK as a political refugee from Zimbabwe, who fought in Zimbabwe’s liberation movement as a chimbwido (junior fighter). This has influenced her political life, allowing her to employ ‘guerilla strategies’ when seeking answers to political problems. Helen Kalsi is a working-class woman who came to politics after being disenfranchised by the lack of jobs in her area. After joining a strike, she realised that the political world was where she needed to be to create a better life for those around her, and for her children. Neghat Khan was the first British Pakistani woman to be elected councillor in Nottinghamshire and took on the role while also juggling being a young mum. Shuguftah Quddoos, currently suspended from the Labour Party for standing against the newly introduced budget cuts in the city, explained how she stood for the first time after the first UKIP member was elected. It was a long road to position for her, but she never quit and found her political voice through the first Women Into Political Leadership programme set up in memory of MP Jo Cox, who was murdered in a politically motivated attack in 2016.

All the councillors had the same thought in common as to why they entered political life: to make a positive change, despite everything. Councillor Georgia Power mentioned when she first got into politics, she felt like she shouldn’t be in the room as a young woman but reminded herself – and us – that men wouldn’t think like that, so why should she? Faith Gakanje-Ajala noted how as a Black African woman some thought she shouldn’t have a place at the table, ensuring that she stood her ground and demanded respect with her political acumen. Councillor Linda Woodings noted how people are reluctant to knock on doors when campaigning and how that is amplified as a woman, but explained how a desire to make positive change and shape the area you live in gives you the will to knock on those doors and speak to the people inside about the issues they face. With all this passion to invoke positive change how do they switch off? “My phone is always on for everyone, all the time” says Councillor Audrey Dinnall, “I want to be visible and accountable for my constituents, whenever and whatever.”

Attending Councillors discuss questions from the host and audience.

At the end of the night the collective councillors were asked if they ever felt they’d failed in their political endeavours. As Linda Woodings so aptly put it, “all the time, but that doesn’t mean we give up. We’ll never deliver everything to everyone, but we’ll do the best we can.” And there, to me, lies the crux of local councils: they may not be able to give everyone in the area exactly what they need, but they sure as hell will try their best to make their ward a fairer, more equitable place for all. As Shuguftah says “what matters to you, matters to me.”

If you missed the sessions and would like more info on how to vote and / or the voting process, then Nottingham Women’s Centre can help you: just pop in on any Tuesday before 16th April and get the support you need to register to vote, or register online!

ONLINE REGISTRATION TO VOTE

APPLY FOR A POSTAL VOTE

AGM & Annual Review 2022-23 Launch

8 February 2024

50+ Years of Support and Sanctuary at the Heart of Nottingham

Download a copy of our Annual Review 2022-23 here

Nottingham Women’s Centre is celebrating over 50 years at the heart of the city, providing much needed support and services for all self-identifying women, from all backgrounds, in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. On Wednesday 10^th January 2024, we held our Annual General Meeting at our headquarters in the historic 30 Chaucer Street building to mark this fantastic achievement!

The event showcased the vital work of Nottingham Women’s Centre over the last 50+ years, supporting women through many challenges, including isolation; access to mental health services; seeking asylum; escaping abuse; financial difficulties and leaving the Criminal Justice System to name just a few.

“I truly believe in the difference Nottingham Women’s Centre can make to the lives of women in Nottingham, be it learning new skills, meeting new friends or accessing affordable support for wellbeing and mental health.”
Vandna Gohil, CEO of Nottingham Women’s Centre.

Protest artwork at Nottingham Women's Centre — Protest artwork at Nottingham Women’s Centre

The support at Nottingham Women’s Centre today includes counselling services, person centred support, advice, guidance, courses, activities, volunteering opportunities, and a welcoming space for all women to meet, visit Nottingham Women’s Library and Archive, and join campaigns for women’s rights and women’s voices to be truly amplified together.

These services and spaces were of utmost importance during the difficult times of the Covid-19 pandemic, in which isolation and abuse were most severely felt, and support and safe spaces such as Nottingham Women’s Centre provided much needed sanctuary.

“We noticed that the call on our services increased post-pandemic, and with the cost-of-living crisis having a disproportionate impact on women. We are proud to offer a free, safe community space in Nottingham City Centre where any woman can drop in for a cup of tea in our Welcome Space or relax and browse our Women’s Library”
Justine Weston, Chair of The Board of Trustees.

During the evening AGM event, stakeholders, supporters, members and partners heard first-hand evidence and testimonials about the services provided, and the lasting positive impact this has had on the lives of so many.

Download a copy of our Annual Review 2022-23 here

The AGM also saw the launch of Nottingham Women’s Centre’s Annual Review 2022-23, further detailing how the work of the last year has supported so many women throughout communities in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

Recent figures show that in 2022 there were 476 referrals from the probation service, 766 hours of much needed low-cost counselling for women on low incomes was provided, 104 women received specialist domestic abuse counselling and support, and 265 women were referred for emotional wellbeing support.

Services users have said of their experiences:

“The strength and support have given me both mental and emotional stability and I aim to do the same for others.”

“Coming to the Centre has let me be in an environment surrounded by passionate and positive women. There is light at the end of the tunnel.”

This just goes to show how vitally important Nottingham Women’s Centre is, and how crucial it is that we continue to provide a safe, supportive space for all women to flourish and gain strength, and have their voices heard for another 50 years and beyond!

Download a copy of our Annual Review 2022-23 here

Coffee & Chat

19 December 2023

November 12, 2024 @ 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Drop in for some free coffee and cake, and to see some friendly faces!

It’s the perfect opportunity to visit the Centre if you’ve never been before, or come and have a social catch-up if you’re a regular!

There’s no need to book, you can just turn up on the day! It’s a very informal opportunity for you to meet and chat with other women, see the Centre, and find out what’s going on here.

We encourage you to head up to the top floor of our building to the wonderful Nottingham Women’s Library to see the full collection, and to find out more about upcoming learning courses, activities and events whilst you’re here.

See you for a natter soon!

Free to attend!

Nottingham Women’s Centre

Recovery Room for Anxiety

10 August 2023

October 24, 2024 @ 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM

Come to meet other women and enjoy creative mindfulness whilst exploring different techniques to combat anxiety.

Samantha will take you through a different theme each meeting that you will work through as a group to help you build resilience and strength through positive relationships.

Please note that this is not a counselling or a therapy session, but a supportive group

More info & FAQs

Free

NWC

We sent all candidates standing in the General Election in Nottingham these six questions, about issues that women in Nottingham care about, alongside our Women’s Organisation Network manifesto.

Questions for candidates from the Women’s Organisation Network.

Here are responses from candidates we heard back from.

Labour & Co-operative Candidate for Nottingham North & Kimberley

Independent Candidate for Nottingham South

Labour Candidate for Nottingham East

The Women’s Organisations Network presents our manifesto, which contains proposals for achievable change to improve the lives of women and girls in Nottinghamshire and beyond.

We ask all political parties to ensure that women and girls are at the heart of their General Election campaigning and that women’s voices are listened to in policy and practice by Government.

We present our six questions for all General Election candidates from all parties in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

November 5, 2024 @ 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Have you registered to vote in the upcoming General Election on 4th July? It only takes five minutes to get registered! Five minutes is an excellent investment in time for the change we want to see in government!

Here is our essential checklist of dates and links, counting down to the big day!!

Need More Help?

Safety Concerns?

Want to Vote by Post?

Want to find your local team?

October 25, 2024 @ 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM

We have a really special event coming up this weekend. It’s the Women United 2024 football tournament, which takes place every year to fundraise for Nottingham Women’s Centre in Tara Newbold’s name.

Our amazing caseworker Joanna and her fab friends took part in the Inflatable 5K last month.

They were raising money for our Crisis Fund, which helps provide vital support for women in Nottingham.

Hear about Joanna and her friends’ adventures completing the course…

What did we hear from the candidates?

Our CEO Vandna was chairing:

Questions to The Police and Crime Commissioner Candidates:

How will you ensure women’s voices are listened to in improving the experiences of women when they interact with the Police?

We have summarised key quotes from their answers below:

Questions to the Mayoral candidates

How will you make sure women and women’s organisations will be involved in shaping the priorities of the new combined authority?

Other questions included themes around building trust with women, and how to engage women who are experiencing multiple disadvantages and are marginalised and stigmatised in many ways. Candidates also responded to the question about safe streets asked to PCC candidates.

Here is our summary of quotes from their answers:

Whatever you do, don’t forget to vote in the East Midlands Mayor, and Police and Crime Commissioner elections tomorrow, Thursday 2nd May 2024!! Your vote is your voice! Use your vote to choose a better future for all women in the East Midlands!

Our incredible volunteer Penny has written about her insightful experience attending the events we’ve hosted recently about politics in the UK.

Hands up if you find politics a confusing place to be?

An elected mayor should give the East Midlands a voice at a national level to make the case for much greater investment from both government and private sector.

50+ Years of Support and Sanctuary at the Heart of Nottingham

Services users have said of their experiences:

“The strength and support have given me both mental and emotional stability and I aim to do the same for others.”

“Coming to the Centre has let me be in an environment surrounded by passionate and positive women. There is light at the end of the tunnel.”

November 12, 2024 @ 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM

October 24, 2024 @ 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM

Questions for candidates from the Women’s Organisation Network. 

Have you registered to vote in the upcoming General Election on 4^th July? It only takes five minutes to get registered! Five minutes is an excellent investment in time for the change we want to see in government!

Questions to The Police and Crime Commissioner Candidates:

How will you ensure women’s voices are listened to in improving the experiences of women when they interact with the Police? 

Questions to the Mayoral candidates 

How will you make sure women and women’s organisations will be involved in shaping the priorities of the new combined authority? 