Women’s Homelessness Involvement Group (WHIG) Monthly Memo February 2023

Welcome to the February edition of WHIG’s Monthly Memo. This is the place to get updates on events, services, and things we think may be useful to women experiencing or at risk of homelessness. If you would like to share something here, please email  womencochairs@gmail.com

International Women’s Day is fast approaching on 8th March. This is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality. This year, the theme is #EmbraceEquity. It aims to promote an understanding of the difference between equality and equity. The theme is particularly apt for us here at WHIG. A key aim of our group is to promote a wider understanding of women’s experiences of homelessness and how they can differ significantly to that of men’s. We know that this is not always considered in the design and delivery of services. It is not that women necessarily have unequal access to services per se, it is that by not considering their differing needs, services can be rendered inequitable. If you want to find out more about how women can experience homelessness differently, see our Political Asks.
Take a look at some of the things happening locally to celebrate IWD:

Manchester’s Walk for Women will be back on Saturday 4 March to mark International Women’s Day 2023. Find our more www.manchester.gov.uk/iwd

Free Event
Empower: A Celebration or Women in Music and the Arts, Friday 10th March 6-10pm, Anthony Burgess Foundation, Engine House, Chorlton Mill, 3 Cambridge Street, Manchester, M1 5BY Tickets need to be booked: https://www.anthonyburgess.org/event/concert-empower-a-celebration-of-women-in-music-the-arts-for-international-womens-day/

Collaborative Women
Creating Safe Spaces For Women

Collaborative Women have a whole month of activities planned to celebrate International Women’s Month: Upcoming Events | Collaborative Women

Collaborative Women also have a new FREE monthly space for new mums to meet new friends and learn new skills including children’s first aid. Where? The SQ Stretford Mall, Chester Rd, M32 9BD When? Last Friday of the month staring on 27th January 10am-12pm

Your Time to Make Time:

 

Welcome to Barnabus
We would like to offer a warm welcome to Barnabus who joined us at WHIG this month after reporting a recent increase in women accessing their services.

 

 

Manchester City Council’s Women’s Pathway
We are also pleased to welcome Manchester City Council’s Commissioning Team to WHIG. They are looking to co-produce a women’s pathway with partners and people with lived experience. This comes from a recognition that more is needed for women experiencing homelessness including specialist accommodation and support. This work is at its very beginning and will look at what is working well as well as opportunities for expanding and developing services and support for women. The Commissioning Team will be attending future WHIG sessions to start this work. If you would like to get involved, please come along to our meetings, or contact us womencochairs@gmail.com or anna.Thorogood@manchester.gov.uk or Katie katie.parker@manchester.gov.uk

WHIG now has funding for travel expenses
Thank you to Manchester City Council for providing funds to pay for travel expenses to our meetings for women living in temporary accommodation.

The Pankhurst Centre Drop in
Women’s Drop In | The Pankhurst Trust and Manchester Women’s Aid
60 Nelson Street, Manchester, M13 9WP
Takes place each week on Wednesdays 12-2 and offers wellbeing workshops and creative activities as well as talks and discussions. The Drop In allows women to socialise in a safe and supportive environment. There is a Family Law advice clinic on alternate weeks and a Shelter & Housing Benefits adviser once a month. A vegetarian lunch with dessert is provided for free each week. For more info see our timetable here:

Next Meeting:
22nd March 2023 9.45-11am at the Pankhurst Centre, 60 Nelson Street, Manchester, M13 9WP. Open to all women.
The meeting will be followed by a tour of the Pankhurst Museum, the former home of prominent suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst. The Pankhurst Centre is the only place where members of the public can visit a former home of the Pankhurst family, and is the only museum dedicated to telling the story of women’s fight for the right to vote. The Pankhurst Centre (pankhurstmuseum.com) To book your place, please email womencochairs@gmail.com