Agenda and minutes

David Mackintosh could not stay for the meeting but welcomed everyone.

He said that the Northampton Borough Council (NBC) runs various forums and this is the newest one. He also said that it was very useful in improving the town and has a lot of input from the community in working together.

Cllr Anna King welcomed all to the first meeting of the Northampton Women’s Forum and introduced Jane Carr as joint Co-Chair.

Introductions were made by everyone in the room.

Apologies are listed above.

The draft Terms of Reference (paper attached) was discussed and Anna King asked the group for comments and additions to the proposed document.

Proposed Objectives: what do we want to achieve

Point 5 – Highlighting opportunities:

·        Jane Carr said that inspirational women and mentoring should be added

·        Liz Carroll-Wheat suggested International Women’s Day (IWD). To include women in businesses and the roles they played in their communities.

·        Public safety of women: Anne Stevens said that they were trying to create safer spaces for women, particularly at night time.

·        Promotion of women’s organisations and projects was also suggested.

·        Zahira Case talked about creating a multi-cultural awareness of different faiths and ways of living.

Anna King suggested some workshops based around the opportunities as mentioned.

Activities

1. Meet every 2 months plus attend International Women’s Day (8 March 2014)

Everyone agreed that meetings to be held bi-monthly and these to be a mixture of day and evening meetings to give everyone the opportunity to attend. (Dates of future meetings are listed below).

2. Virtual engagement – social media

Anna King asked if the group members if they used social media. There was a mixture of responses and she suggested we run a workshop on this. It was also recognised that social media was an additional form of communication alongside the others such as workshops and community events.

Suggestions of workshops included budgeting and health. As there were groups who already delivered some of the training around health, it was agreed to use these rather than starting from new.

3. NBC website page

Discussions took place around the website page and how to make the best use of this. It was acknowledged that it would develop as the Forum moved on. How to link in an events calendar and social media was also discussed.

Pauline Woodhouse asked if NVC could expand their database to include community signposting. Jane said that their remit was with working with groups not individuals. It could be done however there would be a cost in developing the database.

Other discussions included the website front-facing so that it is a simple profile; whether a proposal could be made for a business to develop this; building case studies and sign-posting/forwarding information.

It was agreed to discuss this item at a future meeting.

Representatives

Discussions took place around other groups that could be invited and suggestions included University, Eiman, ASDA and small businesses run by women.

All suggestions of groups and businesses that could be invited to be given to Alice Morgan together with contact details for Avon and WI (if anyone had these). Alice can be contacted on alicemorgan@northampton.gov.uk.

Alice to also follow up the campaign that Avon run.

NCC – Sham Hanif

Sham Hanif is now on maternity leave and Helen Mason is the new contact

at NCC.

Budget

Anna King said that there is a budget for the venue and refreshments. There is £1000 available for International Women’s Day.

Liz Carroll-Wheat said that there are only two  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

Anne Stevens spoke about the consultation on improving the Town’s Parks.

The Scrutiny Panel are undertaking a review at improving the town’s parks, initially looking at Abington Park, Delapre Abbey and the Racecourse. There are a number of questions that the Scrutiny Panel were looking for responses for and Anne Stevens asked if the Women’s Forum could respond either as a group or individually. After various discussions including the short time-scales for responses, no-one was aware of this consultation and everyone felt that there were other groups who would be very keen to respond to the consultation, it was agreed for an email version to be sent to the Forum members for distribution to their own groups/contacts.

Suggestions for events included workshops on Facebook, budgeting, simplified website and promoting women’s businesses.

ACTION: Groups to come forward with ideas for IWD at the next meeting.

It was noted that the events planned would be run through the Forum and not the NBC Events team.

1. Consultation on improving the town’s parks - responding to this

2. Accessing information / web space

3. Invite a key speaker as part of the meeting. Suggestions included women who were successful in business such as BBC, council or health.

The group agreed to invite a speaker from Nene Commissioning to talk about health.

Keep Healthy 4 Ever CIC: Seema previously worked as a Health trainer for the NHS but this has since been decommissioned. Seema and her colleague Usma wanted to continue the work as they could see how beneficial it was to the community so they set up a Community Interest Company (CIC). They visit new and existing groups to facilitate health sessions such as healthy eating, smoking and being active. They give the individuals the tools to continue the programme and take it within their own groups.

Morcea Walker

·        Carnival: the Carnival date is planned for 14th June 2014. Morcea will circulate the dates for the workshops.  The Carnival is an opportunity for groups to promote what they do.

·        Northamptonshire Rights and Equality Council: NREC will be holding an event on the role of women in challenging Islamaphobia on 18th November. This is a free event and bookings to be made through Eventbrite - https://womenandislamaphobia.eventbrite.co.uk/

·        This Sunday is Apple Day to celebrate the season from 2-5pm at Wilson’s Orchard.

Zimwomen Association – Rutendo spoke about the Young Person’s Achievement award. This was being held on 30^th November at Aviator Hotel, Sywell, Northampton from 7pm to 12:30am. This ceremony is to honour all the young black achievers in Northamptonshire.

NABPFA are meeting on 3^rd March at the Quaker Meeting House in Northampton. She welcomed the group to meet the people from Palestine. This was a partnership day for Women in Action and it was hoped that they would all keep in touch.

Pearls of Peace: are holding an Eid Prayer on 15^th October from 9.30am in Claire Street and everyone is welcome.

They also hold regular coffee mornings from 9.30am – 12noon. This is for women and they hold various activities at the coffee mornings.

Liz Carroll-Wheat reminded everyone that International Coming Out Day is on Friday and will be held at the Museum.

Diwali celebrations will also be taking place on 26^th October organised by IHWO. The parade will start at 6.00pm from All Saints Church.

Frost Fair: This will be taking place on 1^st December in the Market Square.

Anne Stevens said that Abington Park Museum will be holding an event on 30th November to celebrate the history and heritage of the museum.

Nisha Mejer talked about the different activities held during the summer holidays for the youth from the Sikh community.

They are also running a women’s empowerment project to talk about health, awareness and are trying to bring in taboo subjects slowly.

An event will be held on Saturday 10^th November 2013 to help people with CV’s, IT and social media.

There is also a youth project in partnership with the Museum on 2^nd November based around Indian footwear.

Navratri/Garba’s: This will be taking place at:

Northampton Academy – run by Patel Samaj

Old Conservative Club – run by IHWO

Sue Ward, Voices Against Abuse

Raising awareness to all groups/communities. Currently working alongside Northampton Women’s Aid and Sunflower Centre. They also  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

- Website

- International Women’s Day

3^rd December 2013, 6.00pm – 8.00pm

28^th January 2014, 11.00am – 1.00pm

Saturday 8^th March – International Women’s Day