The Green Bullet April 2021
The latest Green Bullet is now available to read. The intention of the Green Bullet is to connect and support networks of voluntary, community and public sector organisations in the region across issues pertaining to the environment.
It contains environmental campaign information, general information, publications, events, resources, consultations and funding.
Women & Covid-19: An IPPR North Report
‘Women in the North: Choosing to Challenge Inequalities’
The latest IPPR North report, written by Amreen Qureshi & Sarah Longlands, was released at the end of April 2021. Their premise for the report circulated around wanting to investigate how women have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. They have taken an intersectional approach to the investigation, which encompasses the impact of pre-existing economic and social inequalities in combination with the disproportionate impact of corona on women. Their view is that the pandemic has further exacerabted pre-existing inequalities across the North for women.
What has been the impact?
Women are more likely to earn less and save less
Challenges in the North exacerbated by austerity
Health and Social Care workers are at higher risk of infection and death (in the UK 77% Health & Social Care workforce are women)
Gender pay gap in the North is wider than other areas of the UK
In response to school closure, women with the lowest income are 9x more likely to report job losses
Unpaid care work has a negative impact on mental health
The pre-existing social and economic inequalities which affected minority ethnic women has made them “less resilient to the pandemic” than other demographics
There has been an increase in domestic violence- (women with insecure immigration status have had particular issues accessing support services)
Policy Responses to Covid-19 for Women in the North
North West Relevant:
Greater Manchester Combined Authority launched the ‘Women and Girls’ Equality Panel’
Lancashire County Council commissioned Northern Power Women and Groundswell Innovation to create ‘Two Zero’: Female (business growth programme supporting female-led Lancashre based businesses)
Salford introduced ‘Tech She Can’
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority launched the ‘Fariness and Social Justice Advisory Board’
Recommendations for Building Back Fairer for Women
The report is explicit in it’s statement that economic recovery should not disregard the importance of furthering gender inequality.
They have 3 thematic recommendations:
Income
The Government’s “plans for jobs” should use targets to focus on employment for support for disadvantaged women and recognise caring inequalities faced by women
Introduction of targets set to level up the North’s gender pay to match the rest of the country
Understanding
There should be a shift in understanding of what constitutes the economy:
Equality impact assessments should be innately part of covid recovery policies
Government and Equalities Office should be more proactive in putting gender equity at the fore of policy development and make it a requirement for departments to publish data in relation to gender
Representation
Every recovery strategy designed by Combined Authority’s should have dedicated components considering more support of women e.g. gender equality panels should represent the diversity of women in the North
Politcal infrastructure gender balance
Devolution and recovery white papers should assess impacts of policies on women
Social Sector Leaders Joint Statement on the Right to Campaign
The Sewell Report was released on the 31st March, a government commissioned report by the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities in the UK; the findings of which were deemed highly controversial. The Runnymede Trust’s (who operate as the UK’s leading independent race equality think tank) response to the report which condemned the findings, caused a number of members of the House of Commons to complain to the Charity Commission. This government-led retaliation was not the first time they have complained to the Charity Commission over contrary statements to government commissioned reports.
ACEVO recognise that whilst the charity sector does and should not run along party political lines, their work which is often concentrated on people and communities is in that sense, political. They have issued a joint statement from social sector leaders and are asking for those leaders who wish, to sign up in solidarity to the sector’s right to campaign against injustices and inequalities in our society.
You can find the full list of signatories and details on how to sign up your organisation here.
The VS6 Liverpool City Region VCFSE Metro Mayoral Hustings Summary
VS6 Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Hustings – 20/04/2021
Last week, VS6 hosted the LIverpool City Region VCFSE Hustings event, where all three Metro Mayor candidates that attended welcomed and committed to the VCFSE LCR manifesto. Candidates agreed that working with the sector is something that they recognise as vital for our communities and the recovery of Liverpool City Region.
It was a fantastic afternoon with some great questions from our VCFSE colleagues, focusing on some key issues for the communities and organisations across the region. They explored how the Metro Mayor candidates plan to work with, and support the sector over the next three years, including working towards the ambitions of the VCFSE manifesto.
The event was held via Zoom and was attended by 58 representatives from the VCFSE sector in LCR, with three of the Metro Mayor candidates in attendance including Steve Rotheram (Labour and current Metro Mayor), Gary Cargill (Green), with Katie Burgess representing Jade Marsden (Conservative).
Specifically, there were 7 questions asked in total of each candidate focusing on digital inclusion, inequalities, food insecurity, fair employment, and how the Metro Mayor will support and invest in the sector.
Steve Rotheram (Labour) used his answers to reflect on his achievements to date since 2017 as the Metro Mayor of LCR, including the development of the LCR Cares crowdfunder for the VCFSE sector, creating the VCFSE Mayoral Advisor role, the Race Equality programme and the Fair Employment Charter. He also discussed how he would support communities and the sector moving forward through digital upskilling, and leading in digital connectivity, liaising with the Government for a trial of Universal Basic Income, implementing a £150m COVID recovery fund and building capacity in the VCFSE sector.
Gary Cargill (Green) discussed his plan for improving Liverpool City Region, and how a focus on environmental security and social justice, links to better outcomes for our communities. Key points included recycling digital devices to ensure everyone has the access to technology, setting up Citizen Assemblies for legislation and policy to be scrutinised by communities, implementing a Universal Basic Income, supporting the sector to lobby Government and having an “open-door” policy for the sector to raise concerns.
Katie Burgess (Conservative) talked about “building back better and beyond” through recouping the regions economic strength to develop a strong, sustainable economy working with the sector. Areas for progress included working with broadband providers to provide affordable internet for those in need, upskilling individuals and families to cook healthy meals within their budget, ensuring recognition for the LCR sector locally and nationally, and engaging with the VCFSE sector and communities to level up the region.
We would like to thank Steve, Gary and Katie for attending the Hustings and to our VCFSE sector for attending and submitting their questions to the candidates. David Newman of the Liberal Democrats was due to attend however due to personal circumstance was unfortunately unable to do so.
For a full breakdown of the event and the answers provided by candidates, you can find the VS6 Twitter thread here which provides a summary of the event as it was happening. You can also watch the Hustings in full on YouTube by clicking here.
As a reminder, the LCR Metro Mayor elections are being held on May 6th 2021 for you to have your say on who you want to be leading the recovery of the Liverpool City Region working in collaboration with the VCFSE sector.
Manchester Deaf Centre Vaccine Clinics
Manchester Deaf Centre are hosting a Covid-19 vaccine drop in clinic with British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter support. They are encouraging any deaf person, disabled person, person with a learning difficulty, person with long term health condition, PAs and carers from Greater Manchester to attend.
It will be held on the 29th April from 10am-3pm.
Information regarding the pop-up clinic in BSL:
Video made by Sign Health RAD in collaboration with other deaf organisations regarding COVID and saving lives:
VCSEP Seminars
The Voluntary and Community Sector Emergencies Partnership (VCSEP) are hosting two seminars to discuss the role and purpose of Local Resilience Forms (LRFs), which have been instrumental in organising public sector response during the pandemic. Having an in-depth understanding of how LCFs work will help arm the sector with the knowledge to strengthen their response to the crisis.
VCSEP are running two sessions and invite anyone, regardless of current knowledge to attend:
Register for 6 May (2-4pm)
Register for 10 May (12-2pm)
Chairing Through Coivd
Being a Chair During The Pandemic
There has been much written about the effect of Covid working on staff employed by VCFSE bodies; similarly there have been many words written about service users. The financial effects of Covid have exercised researchers, policy makers, lobbyists and politicians. One area of work has attracted little comment – the role of chair.
The role of chair can be difficult at the best of times. When things go well and there is complete harmony, adequate resources, an agreed shared vision and contended service users there is no better role within a charity. Indeed, when one of these broad areas is not functioning as well as it could, it can be argued that the role becomes even more interesting, as the chair can use their skills to address the issue. However, when a pandemic strikes and the majority of the risk register suddenly goes red, then the role of the chair is very difficult indeed. And, to undertake the role in an unpaid capacity (with plenty of potential personal downsides) takes a very special person indeed.
The Association of Chairs published a landmark report in April 2021.
From a response of more than 700 chairs it is reported that the workload has, for some, turned into a full time job. Many report that relationships with the head of paid services (CEO) are better than they were but, for a significant minority (8% - which is not a lot but each case is significant as it affects individuals as well as operations,) they are not.
Chairs have had to cope with encorporating new technology into their role, as well as developing new ways of co-ordinating and chairing meetings. The ability to read nonverbal signals by attending physical meetings is, as for all, reduced.
The report indicated that a large number of operations do not have a training budget specifically for chairs. This may be because chairs are unwilling to deplete resources to increase their own skills.
Despite all of the issues that have arisen during the pandemic the overwhelming majority of chairs (83%) report that their motivation is at least as good as it was when the pandemic burst onto the scene.
We are approaching Volunteers Week. Ensure that your chair has a shout out of thanks. Where would you be without them?
Gendered Intelligence Professional Development Training
Introduction to Trans Awareness
Gendered Intelligence in light of the current pandemic are offering online professional development training.
They are offering sessions on an “introduction to Trans Awareness”
What ‘trans’ is about?
Gaining confidence to approach situations involving a trans client, student or colleague?
Information about what your organisation might need to comply with Equalities law?
They provide half day sessions, enabling proffesionals to broaden their understanding of issues faced by trans people. The session is based around interactive exercises, encouraging participants to get involved in thinking through what trans means and ways to achieve equality and inclusivity in practice.
More information available here.
The Baobab Foundation Report
‘Digging Deeper Report: Insights on tailored funding to organisations led by black people and communities experiencing racial injustice in 2020’
As stated in a previous article, The Baobab Foundation has been set up in response to the Black Lives Matter movement and the stark inequalities further exposed by the global pandemic. The foundation aims to reestablish how black and ethnic minoirty-led VCSE organisations are funded and expose how the funding landscape has “enabled” or “limited” the work of these organisations.
Their report spoke to 26 respondents from 19 organisations.
Findings:
Rise in funding but exposure of limitaitions of support that would bring about systemic change, proportional investment
Focus on emergency response, not long-term solutions to tackle racial injustice
Some funders are putting social change as a priority, but more needs to be done to “integrate a racial and intersectional lens across funder strategies”
Thoughts:
Baobab do not use acronyms, as they regard them as an oversimplification of the lived experiences of individuals
Need to use ‘Intersectional approach’ as a framework to understand inequalities. Intersectionality which considers the various plethora of contexts and backgrounds that contribute to a persons lived experience, needs to be taken into account to build knowledge and resistance.
Funder Progress:
Increased availability & flexability of funding
“Shift towards participatory funding models”- including funders listening to experts on racial injustice
Investment into “lived experience funders and organisations”
Community issues now:
Progress remains limited, due to inhibted long-term and scaled flexible investment:
Funding doesn’t go beyond March 2021
Funding has failed geographical and intersectional disparities across UK
Groups still struggling with historic underinvestment
Moving towards an anti-racist & intersectional funding approach:
Funders need to be explicit about racial inequities
Understanding that racial injustice spans many social change strategies
Funders need to increase equity and transparency
Funders need to adopt risk-taking behaviour to generate innovations
Funders need to consciously work with groups outside of London
Trauma-informed approach to reduce harm in funding process needed
Call to Action to Funders:
Long-term and flexible funding (5+ years)
Address dispairites for groups outside of London
Build strategic partnerhships with organisations led by black people and communities experiencing racial injustice
Use “transforamtive policies and practices”
Adopt a trauma-informed approach across funding
Full report here.
Brief report here.