Welcome!
The Women’s Staff Network launched in 2018 through the passion of colleagues such as Margaret Brown, Lesley Cradduck and Lucy Eldridge.
The current Chairs Joanne Bull and Alison Paul want to continue that commitment to Women’s issues. Our Network is supported by the Executive Sponsor Jenny Hurst and regular attenders are the Health and Wellbeing Team and the Freedom to Speak Up colleagues.
The Women’s Staff Network sees the multiple identities women can have such as our ethnicity and culture, gender, sexuality, disability, neurodiversity, faith, married/single, parent, childless or childfree, carer and how this may affect our experiences of work.
In a work setting there is a lot of focus on job titles but know that Women’s Network is for everyone. You are welcome as Bank Staff or part time workers whatever banding. Please make contact. We want you to be part of the conversation.
Also welcome are women and people who identify as women.*
Each year we:
- Consider is there a policy that needs to be driven
- Support October’s Menopause Awareness Day with the Wellbeing Team
- Support International Women’s Day in March
- Take the opportunity to support other events where it is important to represent the Women’s Staff Network/women’s voices.
The meetings are an avenue to receive feedback from HR about the Gender Pay Gap and staff experiences recorded in the NHS Staff Survey.
Projects have included the development of the Baby Loss Policy. Going forward we will be working on the Menstrual Health Policy, events and relaunching the Comfort Boxes initiative.
We hope our staff network will be a space where you can:
- Raise issues, flag concerns or highlight successes
- Meet others in the Trust you may not normally meet
- Access opportunities to get involved to the level that you wish
- Share stories, experiences and sometimes wisdom!
- Hear things you might not normally
- Help to drive of positive change in the Trust.
Ultimately the Women’s Staff Network will only be as influential as the membership involved and we do hope that you will join us and join in.
We are looking forward to meeting you!
Jo and Alison
(Jo Bull and Alison Paul)
We look at the Women’s Network email Inbox on a regular basis but not daily, if you need to be in touch sooner please contact us directly.
*There has been a lot in the news about women’s rights and the rights of transgender people, especially after the Supreme Court ruling. It is a complex and difficult area. We discussed this at the Women’s Staff Network and took the view that our approach continues to be inclusive, that we are better together as that has more chance of easing difficulties.
We know that we cannot please everyone, please do contact us by emailing: Women
Meetings: quarterly, we have explored different time slots but currently have settled with the following. If you have ideas about how we may improve this or other ideas to try please suggest it to us.
Purpose: provide a supportive space for women to share experiences; work collectively towards improving the trust policies and practices and implement change.
Membership: any staff member who identifies as female can attend our meetings the network. We very much welcome membership and involvement of staff from all areas, disciplines and grades, particularly from those women who feel their voices are not heard.
Recording/confidentiality: We not record meetings because we feel it is important people feel free to speak freely. We ask attendees to respect confidentiality and while sharing themes with colleagues is expected, attendees know not to share any personal details.
What if you can’t attend: We recognise that it may be difficult for some colleagues to attend the network. It could be you are ward-based, do shifts, do not regularly access computers, it may be difficult to free up the time to attend - we are looking at possible options to link to wider groups across our sites.
If you are unable to attend meetings, we are still happy to receive suggestions by email/speak. Please reach out.
Meeting dates
Next Dates
- 4 March: International Women’s Day Roadshow (Morning: Hollins Park Canteen,aAfternoon from approximately 2pm: V7)
- 2 June: 2pm to 4pm
- 30 September: 2pm to 4pm
- 16 December: 2pm to 4pm
The network aims to provide a voice for the things that are important to female staff and through collective action, to highlight the significance and value of having a gender equal working environment that recognizes and promotes women’s issues.
The network is for everyone and we are interested in getting views from women of all ages, cultures and experiences about what you think is important. We recognise that it may be difficult for ward based colleagues to attend the network and are looking at possible options to link to wider groups across our sites. If you are unable to attend meetings, we are still happy to receive suggestions by email.