One of our Trustees, Lisa Hilder is undertaking some research into longer term funding mechanisms for ferminist women’s organisations in the voluntary and community sector.
Based on the work at Preston Road Women’s Centre over the last fifteen years and experience of generating income through grants, contracts and social investment, this research will focus on the opportunities and barriers for women’s organisations to become more financially resilient.
Many organisations are trapped in the hamster wheel of short term revenue funding through grants and contracts and beholden to commissioners and funders with differing levels of understanding in relation to women’s needs and the feminist agenda. Generating self finance means women’s organisations can maintain an independent voice and be responsive to emerging needs presented by women who walk through the door of local services.
A key part of the research will be to produce a toolkit for women’s organisations to use to start to generate their own funds – this toolkit will be available to any organisation taking part. The toolkit will be available early in 2019.
Click here to download an extract of the research proposal
The data collection phase of the research has now finished and the interim findings are available to look at below in the research participants brochure and the presentations from the day. If you or your organisation are interested in finding out more, please e-mail us on info@purplehouse.co.uk
Research participants Brochure
Surviving and Thriving feedback
HWN Presentation – 16 Nov. 2018
Lately, as a result of the profile of this work, Lisa has been speaking with Big Society Capital about the women’s centre, and about a feminist approach to women’s services.
Have a look at the video interview here
Below you can see women from the organisations who took part in the Surviving and Thriving research coming together to hear about the findings and talk about working together to build financial resilience for women’s services.
