Contact Info
Centre for Women & Democracy
2 Blenheim Terrace
Leeds
LS2 9JG
Tel: 0113 234 6500
E-mail: info@cfwd.org.uk
Volunteer
Yorkshire Women Councillors
Project Volunteers Needed!
CFWD has received funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund to develop and deliver a project retrieving, recording and preserving the history of women councillors of all parties and none in Yorkshire between 1920 and the present day.
Women have been able to stand for election to the major councils since 1906, but their progress has been very slow. In 1920 there were just 20 women councillors; in 2010 31% of councillors in Yorkshire are women - still well below 50%. In addition, there are very few women councillors from BME or other minority communities, and the average age of councillors is 58.
Our project will produce a history of women's progress since 1920, recordings of interviews with women councillors past and present (many of whom were or are pioneers), an exhibition and booklet to publicise the story, a short film, and an archive of accessible research material which will be lodged with regional and national bodies.
We are looking for volunteers to help us to do this. In particular, we need people to carry out the interviews across the region, but we will also need help with other aspects such as transcribing interviews and organising events. We will provide training in oral history techniques, travel and subsistence expenses, and the satisfaction of being part of a team working on an interesting and exciting project. You will need to be able to commit a certain amount of time - about 3 full days between April and September 2011 for training, team meetings and events, plus a flexible amount of time for interviewing - as well as your experience and enthusiasm.
You don't need any oral history experience for this project - full training will be given - but you do need an interest in womens' issues and representation, good communication and listening skills, and the ability to work flexibly as part of a team. Some understanding of local government would help, and we'd be particularly interested in applications from people from BME communities.
If you are interested in volunteering on this project, please email us at admin@cfwd.org.uk with the following information:
- Your name, postal address, phone number and preferred email address
- A bit about yourself - who you are, what you do, what your educational background is, etc.. We're not asking of any specific experience - full training in oral history techniques will be given, for instance - but it will help us if you could give us as much relevant detail as possible about yourself
- Why you want to be involved with the project, and what you hope to get out of it
If there are more suitable applications than we have opportunities we will hold interviews - we may not be able to accomodate everybody who wants to be involved, but we'll do our best!