We warmly invite WAND supporters to join us for WAND’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2020 on Tuesday 10^th November, 7pm-8.30pm. Due to the ongoing pandemic, this will be taking place online via Zoom.

2020 has certainly been a challenging year for us all. Unfortunately, this year’s disruptions have also significantly impacted upon WAND’s previous plans for events and activities. However, we have been using this time to reflect on how we can move forward and start planning for the future, in light of the present situation and despite its challenges.

At the session we will give an overview of what we’ve been up to in 2019-2020 and will be asking for your comments on WAND’s vision for the future.

Committee members needed

We are really excited about some potential plans we have, but in order to make these a reality and keep WAND running smoothly we need a greater number of committee members. Therefore, we are also seeking expressions of interest in advance of the AGM, as it would be great to kick off the next year with greater capacity and some enthusiastic new members.

WAND’s committee members meet regularly to discuss WAND’s plans, events and activities, and have arranged some fantastic events and fundraisers for women in Dorset in the past. Are you passionate about the rights of women and girls, and looking for an exciting new voluntary opportunity? If so, we would love to hear from you. Full details about WAND’s committee, the key responsibilities of the roles and details about how to express your interest are available here.

Join us

If you would like to join us for the AGM, please use the link below to register in advance. You will receive a confirmation email with the details required to join us on the evening.

If you have any access needs, please let us know ahead of the AGM and we will endeavour to make adjustments so that you are able to be involved. If you have never used Zoom before, information about how to get started is available here.

We hope to see you there!

We send our warmest wishes to everyone in our community. Please look after yourselves. Here are some helpful links and contacts to help you if you are experiencing difficulty or a crisis.

If you or someone you know are in immediate danger:

Phone 999. If it is not safe to speak use the Silent Solution system and dial 55 when asked.

If you are experiencing, or at risk of domestic abuse:

• National Domestic Abuse Helpline: experienced female advisers available 24 hours a day. Call 0808 2000 247
• Women’s Aid Live Chat: Mon – Fri 10am-12pm chat.womensaid.org.uk/
• You First Dorset: Advice, support and refuges for domestic abuse survivors 0800 0325204

If you have been affected by sexual violence:

• Sexual Trauma and Recovery Service Dorset: Free advisor service, counselling and helpline. Helpline open Mon – Tues: 10am-12pm & 3pm-5pm and Wed – Fri 10am-12pm, 3pm-5pm and 7.30pm-9.30pm 01202 308855
• SupportLine: Free emotional support for survivors of abuse. Phone 01708 765200 or email info@supportline.org.uk

If you need help with essentials during isolation:

• Dorset Council’s community response line: 8am – 8pm 7 days a week 01305 221000
• The Dorset Hub lists local services and community support groups

Looking after your wellbeing and mental health:

• Mind: practical advice on looking after your mental health during isolation
• The Help Hub: Free online or telephone listening service for vulnerable people
• Connection: 24/7 telephone access to mental health advice & support for people all ages, anywhere in Dorset 0300 123 5440

WAND and the Dorchester Feminist Group would love to know what matters to women and girls living in Dorset, and what needs to change to make our community a good place to live in for women of all ages.

This survey is open to anyone that identifies as a woman with a significant connection to Dorset (e.g. living or working here). Women of all ages, sexual orientations, religion/belief, ethnicity or any other background are very welcome to participate.

The feedback will be analysed and written up into a report, which will be shared here and on our Facebook page.

WAND and the Dorchester Feminist Group would love to know what’s important to the women of Dorset! What needs to change to make our community the best place to live in for women of all ages?

We will be hosting a street consultation activity on 7th March 2020 in Dorchester, between 10am-3pm. Members of WAND and the Dorchester Feminist Group will be present to speak to local women and girls, to find out what’s important to them. What new facilities, activities, opportunities or support would you like to see? Look out for our gazebo outside Barclay’s bank on South Street, and come and tell us!

The results of this street consultation will be analysed and written up into a report, which will be published via WAND’s website and Facebook page. We are also working hard to create a directory of local organisations so that we can signpost women to places that may already be offering relevant activities, opportunities and services. The report we write will also be used to persuade local organisations (e.g. councils, public service providers) to listen to women’s feedback and take up your ideas. The more feedback and ideas we have, the better.

This event has also been timed to mark International Women’s Day, celebrated every year on the 8th March, which celebrates women’s achievements and calls for progress towards achieving gender equality.

This event is a joint venture between WAND and the Dorchester Feminist Group – an informal open group for mutual support, discussion and actioning of feminist and women-focused political issues – and laughing.

We look forward to meeting you on 7th March!

Can’t make it to Dorchester? You can still take part by taking our online survey here.

Many thanks to the wonderful ladies that joined us on Monday 13th January at the Quiet Space in Poundbury to start planning the IWD 2020 activity and for a bring & share supper. To mark International Women’s Day we are planning to find out about the needs of local women and girls, via an event on Saturday 7th March. WAND will have a stand on Dorchester high street, and the event will also involve displays in local venues.

We would love you to get involved and help us to create our displays! We have booked the Quiet Space for Thursday February 19th for a making session and another bring and share supper. The evening will be on a drop-in basis, so come along from 5.30pm to get “crafty”. All are welcome, and WAND will be providing materials. 

We had a truly delicious supper and a fruitful planning meeting for International Women’s Day last week. It is great to be working with the Dorchester Feminists group and other fantastic volunteers. Things are shaping up!

Look out for details of our February planning meeting, which will be a crafty one…..scissors at the ready!

The new committee and core group volunteers will be meeting on Thursday 21st November to review the AGM feedback and plan future activities. Plans include holding a social event in January and an activity for International Women’s Day 2020.

The meeting will take place Thursday 21st November 7.00 – 8.30 in Weymouth. Please get in touch if you’d like to come along!

Our AGM took place on 30 September, and we were delighted to be joined by many old friends and some welcome new faces.

All three members of the existing committee, who have served WAND enthusiastically for a number of years, decided to step down and a new committee was elected.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the outgoing committee, among them some founder members of WAND, for their dedicated work and wish them the very best for their future endeavours.

Our thanks also to our staunch Patron Tracey West for her words of encouragement, reminding us of the incredible power of women’s networks to support the vulnerable and strengthen us all in our personal, professional and community lives.

The AGM was followed by thoughtful discussion about the future actions and direction of WAND. Watch this space for news!