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Institute for the Study of Civil Society
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The Visiting Women at Work Programme Pilot

Project update, March 2011

Anastasia de Waal

Adjustments to the programme

From the start of May we will be trialling a selection system whereby a single group of girls are chosen on the grounds that they would benefit the most from the project, either with reference to fewer opportunities at home, or with reference to confidence levels.

In addition, we are planning on continuing the pilot through Year 3: partly in order to continue the existing work so as to complete a fine-tuned model; but also in order to gauge the impact of age on the project, effectively trialling the programme with slightly older girls.

New staff member

Kindly funded from a Westminster ward budget, Ellie Howard will be working one day a week on the project as a paid intern. Ellie herself comes from a comparatively deprived background, and is currently on a year off before going to university. Ellie will be working on the pilot for one day a week. Her role will entail weekly communication with each of the schools, communication with the workplaces scheduled to be visited, distributing (and some preparation of) materials for both schools and the women being visited, and, all-importantly, accompanying schools on the visits and feeding back on the strengths and weaknesses of the experience.

Working with sixth-form students

From the summer term we will be incorporating six-formers into the pilot in a bid to trial the 'two-tier' role model system. Sixth-form girls from nearby secondary schools will accompany the visits and, where applicable, work with the primary-aged girls on preparation.

Wider work: Building a nation-wide network

Establishing networks for the future, both in terms of workplaces and women to visit in other regions, and in more general support terms, has been a vital part of establishing a long-term model. Over the last few months much networking has taken place with a variety of interested groups, schools and individuals (from the Stephen Perse Foundation to Girls Out Loud).

Case studies

Outline of a school's schedule: The St. Matthew's CoE Primary School pilot: Model 2

Initial preparation

  • The class teachers chooses up to six girls who they think would most benefit from the programme: selection is on the basis of children who have had fewer opportunities to date (relating to home-life opportunities etc), as well as focusing on girls' whose confidence might benefit the most.
  • Together (Civitas and the school) a date is set for me (Anastasia de Waal) to come in and explain to the girls and their parents about the purpose of the programme, one afternoon at home-time.
  • The school and Civitas set up dates for up to four visits in advance.
  • The school sends a letter home for permission for children to go on the planned visits.

    • For each visit

  • Using the school's pro-forma Civitas sends the school a completed risk assessment form along with details of the visit, including a profile of the woman at work being visited.
  • Civitas works with the woman at work outlining a visit programme and details of the school and group.
  • The week before the visit the girls are given a profile of the woman at work they are visiting, with a sheet to write down some questions on (up to three) which they would like to ask her, having read the profile. Civitas emails this profile and Q&A sheet to the school, along with the visit programme etc.
  • On the day, Civitas comes in with badges and leads the visit, accompanied by a member of St. Matthew's staff.
  • All visits take place in Westminster, in the afternoon and approximately once a month. We either walk, or where necessary, take a bus to and from each visit.

    • After each visit

  • The girls are asked to make a thank-you card for the woman at work visited, describing what they enjoyed most about the visit. These are completed at home (card and colouring pencils/pens are brought in by Civitas for girls who might not have these at home) and then brought in and given to the relevant teacher. We collect them and post them to the relevant workplace.

    • Example profile of a workplace visit given to girls before a visit: Lisa Nandy, Churchill Gardens Primary School visit

    Lisa Nandy MP

    What is a Member of Parliament (MP)?

    Members of Parliament work together to make and change the laws of the United Kingdom. Parliament also checks the work of the government. The issues that are discussed in Parliament affect us all: health, the environment, transport, jobs, schools, crime.

    Most Members of Parliament belong to a political party. A political party is a group of people who share the same ideas about the way the country should be governed. The three biggest parties in the UK are: the Labour Party, the Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrat Party.

    Who gets to be a Member of Parliament?

    We live in a democratic country, which means we all have a say in how the country is run. We do this by voting for Members of Parliament (MPs) to speak to the Prime Minister, David Cameron, on our behalf about issues that concern us.

    Where is Parliament held?

    Members of Parliament meet nearly every week in the Houses of Parliament which are located in the centre of London, right here in Westminster. As well as being the home of the UK Parliament, it is also a royal palace and former home of kings!

    Lisa Nandy

    • Lisa grew up in the North West of England and is the MP for Wigan which is located in Greater Manchester.
    • Lisa was elected to Parliament in May 2010 and she became Wigan's first female MP and one of the first six Asian female MPs elected to Parliament.
    • As part of her work for Parliament Lisa often appears on television and radio to talk about her ideas and the causes she believes in, such as improving the laws for disabled people and finding safe places for homeless teenagers to sleep.
    • If a problem arises that affects the community then it is Lisa's job to try and sort it out!
    • In their towns, MPs often hold a 'surgery' in their office, where local people can come along to discuss any matters that concern them.

    Examples of girls' input

    Examples of the questions asked by the girls: Karen Bradley MP visit, Millbank Primary School

    Mayara: 'I would like to ask you if you have to go to university ('younvasty'!) to be an MP?'

    Mana: 'What type of laws do you make?'

    Siham: 'Do all countries have MPs?'

    ...And a classic example, written in a thank you card from Millbank Primary School to Karen Bradley MP, of what they found most interesting about a visit:

    Houda: 'May favourite part of the visit was looking at the photograph of Gordon Brown being rude to a lady.' (Reference to a photograph in Portcullis House of Gordon Brown and Gillian Duffy.)