Inspiring women across the region
The judges for this year’s West Women of the Year have met and next week we will be announcing our finalists. Women across the region are being recognised for their hard work and commitment to various organisations, workplaces and communities and we believe the publication of our Most Inspirational Women in the West will go some way to highlight the impact women are having in the area. But before the official list next week, we are taking a look at the different organisations, charities and initiatives ran by women that are having a positive influence across the South West.
Natalie Fee - founder of City to Sea The issue of making not only Bristol, but the planet, a more eco friendly and greener place cannot be overlooked and City to Sea are here to make a difference. Award-winning author, broadcaster, producer and environmental campaigner Natalie Fee is the founder of the non profit organisation based in Bristol that aims to tackle plastic pollution at source. Natalie and her team work closely with the local community and retailers to help tackle the issue including calling on all UK retailers to make cotton bud stems out of paper which would reduce over 320 tonnes of single use plastic annually - now that’s a lot of plastic we don’t need.
Team Mendip Football Club As the largest female football club in the South West, Mendip Football club showcases women’s football from all ages and abilities from 5 year olds right the way through to ladies. The Weston-super-mare club provide opportunities for individuals to join a dedicated girls football club in both a safe and friendly environment. Founded back in 2008, the club has FA qualified coaches and offers the best training for women who want to develop as a player.
Bristol Zero Tolerance Managed by ‘Bristol Women’s Voice’ Bristol Zero Tolerance plays a vital role within the city to help eradicate gender based violence, abuse, harassment and exploitation. Being the first city in England to take on this challenge shows how much of a positive step this is and we think it’s great! The initiative is looking to achieve a safer city for women in Bristol in protecting them against all genderbased violence. It allows people to understand how prevalent the issues are in the city, what it entails and also how it looks towards preventing such behaviour happening in the first place.
Bristol Baby Bank Network Any women out there with children will vouch for how expensive raising a newborn can be and anyone who doesn’t have children should be aware. Cots, clothes and prams are just some of the expenses that come with a child and Bristol Baby Bank Network understands the pressure it can put on families. Co-founders Dr Becky Gilbert and Eva Fernandes set up the organisations to eleive poverty in the Bristol area by providing good quality new and pre-owned baby items to families in need, free of charge - excellent work girls.
Bath WI Part of the largest women’s voluntary organisation in the UK, Bath WI offers a friendly and supportive environment to inspire women to develop new skills, and share new interests with others in addition to finding friendship and support. Made up of women from all ages and areas of the community, the group provides women of Bath with unique services such as educational opportunities and the chance to build up new skills and interact with others on a host of activities. The organisation also campaigns on different issues that are important to the city of Bath.
At the Well Cafe & Laundrette There is no denying doing the washing is a tiresome, boring and tedious job but what if that didn’t need to be the case? The Well Cafe and Laundrette, opened by the three Grist sisters and their mother (now known as the Gristers), decided to take an alternative stance on washing after an inspired trip to Zambia showed the human interaction and socialising that took place when carrying out daily tasks, even in poverty stricken circumstances. It offers customers the chance to wash their clothes while having a coffee and meeting others and has resulted in many Bristolians loving doing their washing. Having a blether and a cuppa while doing the washing is a novelty that we definitely want involved in.
Project Mama Having a background in work with asylum seekers, Project Mama founder Fiona Mann became aware that most women she had worked with had been exploited to violence of a sexual nature which resulted in pregnancy. Being forced to leave a country for unforseen circumstances is a tough enough feat for anyone, without the added difficulties of dealing with pregnancy alone. Bristol-based Project Mama helps provide support for women to have “solidarity through their journey to motherhood.” Project Mama states: “Every women deserves the right to give birth safely, make informed choices and receive the support she needs for a positive birth and early parenting experience” and we couldn’t agree more.
Soroptimist International Bath Raising a voice for women through awareness, advocacy and action, Soroptimist International Bath covers a wide range of issues for women in the area. Stemming from ‘soro’ the latin word for ‘sister,’ the organisation’s aim is to tackle such things as domestic abuse, raising awareness of human trafficking, educate, empower and enable women and girls in the area. The organisation also supports a range of local charities that make a difference in the area such as Julian House homeless charity.
Womankind An established charity for women, run by women, Womankind provides the best of therapy for anyone who may be struggling with mental issues in the area. The organisation assisted with over 6,500 calls and 1350 emails of support to people who required help, no matter how big the issue. Helping thousands of women every year improve their mental state and wellbeing results in a higher quality of live and is something that all women deserve. Womankind states: “It’s not always easy to ask for help but we encourage women not to suffer in silence as talking to someone about your problems and how you feel can really help.”
No More Taboo Breaking the stigma attached with periods, Gloucester Road-based No More Taboo opt towards the approach that periods are normal and part of everyday life - which they are of course. The organisation set up by Chloe Tingle aims to educate everyone to feel comfortable talking about periods at any time without feeling self conscious or embarrassed. As an issue that affects all women, Chloe and her team are “breaking the silence and changing the status quo” in a positive development for all women.
The Frome Shed The Frome Shed was launched in the area in May of last year and saw a group of women get together to mend different things while generating new friendships. The group allows women to work on their own projects with many delivering beneficial materials to the local community. The group consists of around 15-20 women who meet every week to socialise and stay active in a positive environment. Undertaking manual projects also keep the members active but women can attend without undertaking any work and simply enjoy a cup of tea and a gab. With all these outstanding achievements, the awards are a prime opportunity to show the empowerment of women within our society and highlight their excellent work across a variety of areas. The West Women of the Year awards ceremony takes place on Thursday, May 16 at The Passenger Shed, Temple Meads. A list of the South West’s top 100 most inspiring women will be published next week.