Note of WNC Learning Exchange

18 March 2008

Those Present:

Joyce Gould (JG) Chair

Anita Gale (AG) Commissioner

Sabin Malik (SM) Commissioner

Jean Corston (JC) Invited speaker

Susan Green (SG) Acting Director, WNC

Daniel Barrow (DB) Deputy Director, WNC

Leon Bond (LB) Business Manager, WNC

Apologies:

Ranjana Bell Commissioner

Brenda King Commissioner

Liz Kelly Commissioner

Bronagh Hinds Commissioner

1. JG opened the Learning Exchange, welcoming Commissioners and Baroness Corston as the invited speaker. JG added that she hoped that the day would generate an outcome of `what WNC can do' in pursuit of the recommendations of JC's report. At the recent 6 O' meeting the MfW had suggested to WNC that this was an area it should look at.

2. JC thanked JG for inviting her to address the Board and gave the background and history to her report. This included the reported increase in women taking their lives while in custody, together with specific cases that had been prominent in the media.

3. JC gave a detailed and focused explanation of the key points of the report. This included the need to deal with women appropriately, since men and women require different but equal treatment due to their different needs. With only 9% of male partners looking after children when their partners are in custody, there is a need to place women in units that can accommodate them and their children and be situated close enough to their families to allow regular contact.

4. JC explained her belief that schools, GPs, etc. should be able to refer women with vulnerabilities directly to `women's community centres', while custodial sentences should be served in smaller units, within the locality. Wales was put forward as a potential pilot for such a scheme. However, there is still a need to engage with the senior levels of the Prison Service to convince them to reallocate funds for such a pilot, the DoH are a key stakeholder and could decide to add their weight to the proposal.

5. JC rounded up her introduction by adding that such a move would be popular with the public, with 86% agreement that community-based sentences are preferable to custodial ones, for lower-level offences.

6. JG thanked JC for her talk and explained that WNC would look to carrying out a project with its Partners on the issue. She would be taking this to the full board meeting as an agenda item. Areas to consider would be;

JC added that the Women's Institute is circulating related information to their branches. JC was hoping that WNC could bring the reality of the situation for the women involved and the background that these women have come from to Partners' attention.

AP1: Board to consider how Partners can be involved in a project related to the Corston report.

AP2: Ask GEO what is happening in terms of convening a meeting with Maria Eagle to discuss this.

7. SM talked about the need to do more than solely raise awareness. Social deprivation amongst white working class women was not being looked at, and the current policy of targeting resources at specific groups within society, left these women without assistance.

8. JC explained that around ten years is needed for comprehensive implementation of the recommendations. By building new units to house women, this would leave empty spaces in the current, larger prisons. These spaces could be used to house male inmates, helping with male overcrowding. If it is possible to show that the changes are successful for women, then the same methods could be looked at for dealing with vulnerable men.

9. JG asked where the current women's community centres are based. JC replied that the flagship centre is in Halifax, but there are around 150 centres across the country, including `ASHA centre' in Worcester (Jenny Roberts), `Glasgow 218' which is funded by the Scottish Executive and where staff have access to the courts and can recommend referral to themselves and `Adelaide' in Liverpool, which focuses on Domestic Violence.

10. JC added that referral at an early stage is extremely important, as young women who run the risk of self-harming, etc. can be helped by being referred to a women's centre before their situation deteriorates.

11. JG explained that WNC would look at text for a consultation WNC might do. Lucy Russell at `SMARTJUSTICE' who had produced a useful pamphlet would be contacted for some of the background material, the paper would be passed to JC for comment before Partners were contacted.

AP3: WNC to take forward work related to Corston.

12. JC was asked for her top three `wishes' to come out of her recommendations. These were;

13. It was suggested to JC that some of the inspirational women could be put forward for honours. JC agreed since it would also raise the profile of the work. In summary:

AP4: WNC to Speak to Lucy Russell about a consultation exercise on Corston.

AP5: Write to Beverly Hughes as Children's Minister about the £0.5M in funding announced to bring children out of poverty and tackling anti-social behaviour. To say “Well done and good luck, but also to ask whether this will include specific provision for girls.”

AP6: Write to Jack Straw to ask him to take forward the Corston report recommendations in full.

AP7: Make contact with the Women's Institute and Fawcett Society, to see what opportunities there are for closer working.

14. JG then thanked Commissioners for attending and adjourned the discussion until the full meeting the following morning.

Note of WNC Board Meeting

19 March 2008

Those Present:

Joyce Gould (JG) Chair

Anita Gale (AG) Commissioner

Sabin Malik (SM) Commissioner

Liz Kelly (LK) Commissioner

Susan Green (SG) Acting Director, WNC

Daniel Barrow (DB) Deputy Director, WNC

Leon Bond (LB) Business Manager, WNC

Zainab Al Derazi Intern from Chevening fellowship

Apologies:

Ranjana Bell Commissioner

Brenda King Commissioner

Bronagh Hinds Commissioner

Agenda Item 1 - Chair's opening remarks and apologies

1. JG opened the meeting and gave apologies on behalf of Ranjana Bell, Bronagh Hinds and Brenda King.

Agenda Item 2 - Review of previous night's discussion

2. JG gave a brief overview of the discussion at the previous day's Learning Exchange. This included WNC proposals for a survey with WNC Partners on the Corston report. LK offered to let WNC use the CWASU online survey account (surveymonkey) if needed.

AP1: LB to contact LK if the survey account is needed.

Letters to Beverley Hughes (DCSF), Jack Straw (Justice) and Trevor Phillips (EHRC) were also agreed to be sent.

Agenda Item 9 - Declaration of Interests

3. Item taken early as SM was due to leave the meeting, JG drew the attention of the board to Paper WNC/08/1/20 `Current Register of Interests' and asked the board to advise the directorate immediately of any additions or alterations required. AG suggested that herself and JG as Peers should include all entries currently in the `Peers register of interests' to the WNC register. SM and LK confirmed that their existing entries were correct.

AP2: JG and AG to provide any additional items required to align their entry in the Peers register of interests with their WNC entry.

AP3: LB to contact all absent Commissioners to update their interests via email. Completed

Agenda Item 3 - Minutes of last meeting and Action Points

4. Commissioners approved Papers WNC/08/1/03 and 04 as a record of the previous meeting. As a follow up that meeting, SG gave a short verbal report on her meeting with Elaine McNaughton from OCPA earlier that week. OCPA are looking at gender in their forthcoming diversity plan, with a series of focus groups by the end of April. One item that Elaine raised was the gender aspects and impact of using psychometric testing in recruitment. LK suggested that Miranda at CWASU be approached to provide some of the existing research in the field.

AP4: WNC to contact Miranda to explore gender implications of psychometric testing.

Agenda Item 4 - Business Plan for 2008/09 and finance

5. SG introduced her paper (WNC/08/1/05) on the current financial situation for WNC and options for any 2008/09 workplan, if GEO are unable to increase the £330K budget. SG explained the series of letters between herself and Janice Shersby outlining the new requirement to bid for funds this year and to provide a detailed costed business plan. The clarification and work involved in this was substantial in itself, and was taking up a great deal of staff time.

6. JG raised the fact that Harriet Harman as MfW, had asked WNC to carry out work related to the Corston Report. That work would carry a cost, one that GEO would need to consider in their decisions. It was agreed that costings in this detail needed to be provided to GEO. JG was due to meet with Jonathan Rees, the new GEO Director-General and would raise the issue of funding to him directly.

AP5: JG to discuss WNC finance and need for an appropriate funding level with Jonathan Rees (GEO).

7. LK suggested that GEO should be using a separate budget line for work connected to the MfW priorities, so that WNC could pass its costs across. LK was in effect providing free consultation on VAW issues to GEO, SG said she would ask GEO for a contribution towards Eleri's costs if additional work was required from GEO on this issue.

8. SG explained that while an impressive amount of work had been carried out in 2007/08 given the circumstances, only the reduction in output due to lack of staff had kept WNC within a budget of £330,000. A budget of at least £500,000 plus Commissioners and honoraria costs was required to keep WNC functioning and to meet it's minimum workload. DB added that implementing the minimum of items from the LT review and taking on requirements from the MfW priorities would then mean a doubling of expenditure spent on WNC programmes. This was before costing any areas that Commissioners and Partners might wish to pursue. Commissioners noted the budget for 2007-08.

9. There was a general discussion on the different areas that WNC was either already committed to, or was being asked to take on. It was pointed out that many of these items fell under article 1 of CEDAW where the UK was under an obligation to fund the work.

10. JG then moved discussion on to the draft business plan for FY2008/09. SG introduced the paper, which was based on decisions made at previous Board meetings. The accompanying International and Outreach plans were briefly discussed. LK explained that the VAW groups worked to the current government timetable for legislation, etc and that sexual violence and domestic violence sub groups were developing plans. The VAW Group would also look to draw up a workplan.

11. DB reminded the meeting, that specific Board approval was required for the financial bid to GEO and of the business plan. Comments on both items were needed asap, so that the bid could be finalised and sent to GEO.

AP6: All Commissioners to send comments and changes on the financial bid and business plan to DB ASAP.

12. SM felt that WNC was under-selling itself, since there was a great deal that it carried out that didn't appear on the website or in newsletters. JG agreed and added that the new website would be carrying out that role. There was a general discussion on the extent and methods by which work in each of the devolved nations and the English regions could be highlighted through WNC communications. Methods of contacting Parliamentarians were also discussed, it was noted that WNC could currently access an online directory (Dods) through CLG. JG summed up the discussion, adding that raising the profile of WNC had been central to the LT review, but that this was heavily dependent on available funds and staff.

AP7: LB to pass details of the Dods database to other WNC staff.

AP8: Directorate to consider how the new website can be used to advertise all areas of work.

AP9: All Commissioners to consider which areas of their work will require regular publicity and to draft appropriate introductory text for the new website.

13. The potential areas of new work, outside of the `core' business plan were discussed. JG asked that working with OCPA be stressed within the `Women in Public life' section. JG explained that it was planned to have regular meetings of a BME group of partners to mirror the 6'O' group, to have a free agenda to raise specific issues. JG expressed her view that separating out BME women from the wider Partnership base may give rise to concerns, however this was one of the MfW's priorities. As `desirable' items, it was also agreed to look at the cost implications of running a consultation through the Migration & Asylum group, on similar lines to the `Listening to Muslim Women' model. Also to investigate whether funding was available for a repeat of the IWIP, looking at areas such as Afghanistan, etc.

AP10: Directorate to generate more detailed proposals for non-core areas of business plan.

Janice Shersby from GEO joined the meeting at this point.

Agenda Item 5 - Guests from Government Equalities Office (GEO)

14. JG introduced Janice Shersby, who gave a short presentation on the situation of GEO within government, it's initial priorities, current workstreams and future tasks. Commissioners had concerns about the timetable, content and stakeholder consultation on the drafting of the Equalities Bill. Janice explained that the Bill was in progress and that the size of the Bill meant that opening it up to pre-legislative scrutiny wasn't possible.

Ann Keeling from GEO joined the meeting at this point.

15. There was a general discussion over the role of GEO and how it could successfully work across areas where it did not have the direct policy lead. Also it was discussed whether the EHRC or the GEO should be giving the lead, together with a single clear and distinct view of government policy on equality issues.

Janice and Ann then continued discussions with Commissioners over lunch.

Agenda Item 6 - Oral updates from Chair, Commissioners, Director and staff

16. SG gave a brief report on her work as Director, including updates on WNC priorities. The WNC budget and business planning were items that had dominated work over recent weeks. This, together with the unplanned move between buildings had set work back. The prospect of GEO helping to refresh some of the dated WNC equipment was raised, including the loss of the invaluable WNC trolley. JG offered to raise this in her meeting with Jonathan Rees, DG of GEO.

AP11: LB to pass list of desirable equipment requested from GEO to JG.

17. JG updated the Board on her work as Chair, including attendance at CSW. CSW had gone very well, the side event on gender budgeting was successful. The NGOs seemed happy and a post-CSW meeting is planned for May 2008. Contact with CSW attendees was planned to identify any improvements.

AP12: DB to arrange a post-CSW meeting

AP13: DB to contact the 51 NGO attendees to identify potential improvements for the future.

18. Daisy Sands updated on the CEDAW submission, which required expert scrutiny on some detailed areas. LK offered to look over the sections, if they were forwarded on to her. JG suggested that the EHRC should be approached for comment on the human rights sections.

AP14: Daisy to forward VAW sections of CEDAW to LK for comment.

AP15: Directorate to approach EHRC for comment on human rights areas.

19. The other written reports on WNC work areas were noted

Agenda Item 7 - Review recommendations update

20. DB gave an update on progressing the LT review recommendations, with a hope that they could all be dealt with by the next meeting.

21. The NDPB and 'Non-Executive Directors' papers were noted, as the potential confusion over terms used in the LT review was now being dealt with through discussions with GEO.

Agenda Item 8 - Outreach and communications strategy, including new website

22. DB introduced the paper and explained that Commissioners needed to agree a split between items that were considered essential for WNC and those which were merely desirable. JG added that each event could combine work from several policy strands, so there may be scope to include desirable work into them if the funding became available.

23. JG talked about how WNC could celebrate it's 40^th anniversary, asking if Commissioners were content to delay having an all-partners conference until 2009/10, to combine with a celebration. LK suggested that there was still a need to hold a partners event in 2008/09, possibly a round table. It was agreed to delay the conference as recommended.

24. The International Strategy was discussed, with agreement that 1325 needed to be discussed with Bronagh Hinds, to see how WNC can input. This could also feed into the `desirable' section of the business plan to re-run the IWIP elsewhere.

AP16: Directorate to contact Bronagh to discuss International Strategy and 1325.

25. The paper on the WNC website was agreed, with Commissioners tasked with inspecting the website and emailing LB with any problems or changes required.

AP18: Board to examine new WNC website and email LB with any problems.

Agenda Item 4 - Business Plan for 2008/09 - continued

26. The meeting returned to the draft Business Plan and possible desirable areas of work. It was agreed to invite a speaker from the Office for Disability Issues or Equality 2025 to the next meeting, to discuss issues around disability and carers. It was also agreed to look at carrying out a small consultation on widowhood and its impact, to inform the Board on the situation. Margaret Owen could be approached for questions.

AP18: LB to invite ODI/Eq2025 to next meeting.

AP20: DB to manage an online consultation on widowhood and approach Margaret Owen for questions.

Agenda Item 10 - AOB

27. JG and SG updated the Board on the timetable for Commissioners recruitment, including issues around re-appointment of existing Commissioners. JG added that she had now completed the required annual appraisals of all Commissioners and that these would be going out shortly. JG hoped that current Commissioners would not be asked to re-apply.

28. SG gave a brief explanation of changes in the WNC directorate, with Eleri Butler starting on the 31 March and Bethan leaving during April. Other changes may happen, depending on the outcome of the business plan.

29. LK was keen to recruit partners to WNC and asked if non-Partner attendees at the VAW working groups and members of the e-network could be identified and the list sent to her. LK also asked that the report from the UN Special Rapporteur on VAW, Yakin Erturk could be circulated to Commissioners.

AP20: PT/EB to identify VAW WG attendees and e-network members who are not already Partners. The list to be sent to LK.

AP21: PT/EB to send a copy of Yakin Erturk's UN report on VAW to Commissioners.

30. JG then closed the meeting at 14.50.

WNC/08/02/03

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