Women’s groups in London's Tower Hamlets stand united
29/06/2007
Women in an inner London borough know that whatever their differences they will always be stronger if they stand united.
The deprived and densely populated borough of Tower Hamlets is home to a diverse population – with nearly 50% of local people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds, including Bangladeshi, Somalian and Chinese and Vietnamese communities.
Working together to improve lives
But thanks to Capacitybuilders and £95,000 of ChangeUp funding during 2006/07, a culturally and ethnically diverse group of women in Tower Hamlets is learning to overcome their differences and work together in order to improve all their lives.
Strength in numbers
The 25 group members of WITHIN (Women in Tower Hamlets Inclusive Network) are all organisations run by women for women across a wide range of support activities – including training, health, advocacy and special interest, e.g. a group specifically for Bengali and Somali women.
Finding some common ground
But, while there are major differences between them, they also have a lot in common and, by working together to examine all aspects of their work from fundraising, training, marketing and IT, to bidding for local authority services, they have been able to identify where they can improve performance, extend their reach and avoid duplication.
Learning to understand one another
Understanding each others weaknesses and vulnerabilities, as well as passions and expertise, hasn’t always been easy, but the help the network has received from Capacitybuilders is already paying dividends.
Establishing an action plan
With Capacitybuilders’ support, WITHIN completed a funding review and action plan, identified and acted on training needs and introduced a quality assurance package.
Reducing competition for funds
A clear picture has now emerged of how members can form partnerships for joint fundraising bids rather than compete against each other for the same, limited pots of money.
Reducing marketing costs
A new marketing package including a WITHIN branded folder is helping all members to present themselves professionally and saving a fortune compared with the costs of developing separate identities.
Working towards a qualification
And, in one of their most significant achievements so far, all members are now undergoing skills development training to achieve an NVQ level 3 Information, Advice & Guidance qualification.
This not only helps members in their day-to-day work, but also wins organisations a quality mark, which in turn enables them to get funding and win bids.
This training wasn’t available at a location, time or place to suit the women so, supported by member training organisation Account3, they bought it in, ran it themselves and are looking forward to qualifying in record time.
Sharing IT knowledge
The women’s next project is to analyse their collective IT needs with a view to putting a shared network and email solution in place – and they know that by working together they can not only achieve more, but also enjoy a more powerful voice in the local community.
Feedback from the sector
“We all know each other now and we know we are stronger together,” said Toni Meredew, of Account3 Women’s Consultancy Service.
“This network has become a strong body that is recognised for speaking and fighting for women’s issues in Tower Hamlets,” agreed Safia Jama, co-ordinator of the Somali Integration Team.
“WITHIN has given the us the tools to grow and develop professionally,” she added.
