Wiltshire Community Foundation: Inspiring Confident Allyship

Wiltshire Community Foundation's event aims to increase awareness of gender equality and inspire more confident allyship.

Male allyship is not about women inviting men to be allies, it is about developing and sharing a consciousness amongst men so that men are encouraged to be more aware and progressive in the shared responsibility to promote gender equality.

The statistics below demonstrate a frightening picture of why this is a topic we should all be talking about:

• Women and girls groups receive less than 2% of the UK’s total charitable giving, leaving limited avenues for support. (rosauk.org)
• 1 in 4 women have been raped or sexually assaulted as an adult (rapecrisis.org)
• Police in England and Wales receive over 100 calls relating to domestic abuse every hour. (womensaid.org)
• ¾ of the people who’ve worked minimum wage jobs in the last 10 years are women. (womensequality.org.uk)
• Working women earn 15.4% less than men, at the current rate of change it will be 70 years before the gender pay gap closes. (womensequality.org.uk)
• Only 18% of small and medium enterprises (SME) enterprises are led by women. (Women and the UK Economy Parliament Research Briefing)

This event aims to make steps to being a good ally more tangible and demonstrate that small steps towards effective allyship can make more of a difference than you may think.

Speakers will share lived experience, professional insight and actionable ideas to empower attendees to make a real difference in Wiltshire and Swindon.

Tickets include refreshments, pastries and a breakfast roll.

About Wiltshire Community Foundation:

We are an independent charity, established in 1975, which exists to tackle disadvantage and strengthen local communities by inspiring philanthropy and supporting the voluntary sector.

Our mission is to maximise the impact of charitable activity by connecting people, information and resources.

In March 2024 we launched a fund for the advancement, empowerment and support of women and girls. The fund supports local charities and community groups running projects that challenge the inequality, abuse and discrimination experienced by women and girls, andamplify their voice and experience to advocate for change, to make our county a fairer and safer place. It will also provide bursaries to enable young women to fulfil their educational and vocational ambitions.

Speakers:

James Threlfall MBE (Host) - James is a British presenter and skateboarder hailing from Wiltshire, working predominantly in radio for the BBC and as a host for football shows. He grew up in Melksham and now lives in Devizes.

Frank Mullane MBE - Julia Pemberton was terrorised for 14-months by her husband before he shot her and their son dead. In the 18 years since, her brother (Frank) has devoted his life to preventing similar crimes and supporting other families.

Frank helped ensure Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHRs) became law, and helped develop the Home Office DHR Guidance. He is a Home Office appointed reader of DHRs and a member of the national Victims’ Panel chaired by the Justice Minister. A powerful advocate for male allyship.

Jeremy Blain - Jeremy Blain is the multi-award-winning Chief Executive of Performance Works International (PWI), a modern leadership research and development company that helps organisations, executive boards, leaders, and teams succeed in the digital climate amidst disruption, opportunity, and uncertainty.

Jeremy’s core purpose is to champion diverse, equitable and inclusive workplaces at all levels, everywhere. As an example, Jeremy is a noted male ally advocating for greater gender balance in boardrooms, leadership suites and senior management. He does this through delivering male allyship programmes across corporate enterprises for male leaders, particularly in Asia and Europe, moving words into positive action.

Swindon Domestic Abuse Support Service - Swindon Domestic Abuse Support Service is committed to empowering domestic abuse survivors and victims by providing a range of flexible and accessible services that promote positive change. Using their knowledge and expertise they inform policy and raise awareness to protect and keep victims and survivors safe.

Why attend:

Learn Practical Strategies: Gain actionable insights on how to effectively support and advocate for gender equality in your community and workplace.

Network with Like-Minded Professionals: Connect with other business leaders and professionals committed to making a difference.

Hear from Experts: Engage with thought leaders and experts who will share their experiences and best practices in promoting gender equality.

Make a Tangible Impact: Discover how small, consistent actions can contribute to significant change and how you can be part of that change.

Join us in making a real difference. Register now for an inspiring and empowering event that will equip you with the tools and knowledge to become a proactive ally for gender equality in Swindon and Wiltshire.