This event for funders will share new research and provide a space to discuss how funders can better support the women's vountary and community sector (WVCS) to affect change.

Early in 2022 a group of UK funders*, with a track record of funding the women’s voluntary and community sector (WVCS), commissioned research to help better understand the opportunities for small and grassroots women’s organisations to catalyse change for women, including what works well at the moment and where more support is needed. In particular, this new research helps to:

Better understand the scope and reach of the existing national, regional and local infrastructure serving the WCVS
Identify routes to power and influence for small and/or grass roots women’s organisations, and the barriers that impact the sector’s ability to influence change at a policy level

The researchers have assessed how well the sector's infrastructure is supporting diverse actors to make change. This has included exploring the effectiveness of change-making in the sector with a view to considerations of power, relationships and conflicts, alongside understanding the approaches taken and issues worked on to identify areas of strength, issues and gaps.

Alongside sharing findings from the report, this event will start a discussion about the report's recommendations about what funders could do to support women's organisations' routes to power and influence.

Who should attend?

This event is for funders only, on the understanding that any work that arises from it will be developed in partnership with the appropriate WVCS organisations.

This event will be of interest to funders who:

Make grants to the WVCS or are interested in doing so
Fund policy and campaign work by grassroots groups
Support the development of social movements more broadly

There will be an opportunity to share your perspectives about the role of grant-making in this space and explore potential opportunities for joint working.

Registering and more information

We aim to make all our events accessible and inclusive, which includes a live transcription service for all our online events. If you have any requirements or adjustments you would like to discuss for this session, please let us know on the registration form, and we will get in touch.

If you have any questions about this session, please get in touch with us at: policy@lloydsbankfoundation.org.uk

*The funders involved in this work to date include: Comic Relief; Esmee Fairbairn Foundation; Lloyds Bank Foundation for England & Wales; The National Lottery Community Fund; Pilgrim Trust; Rosa UK; Smallwood Trust; Women’s Fund for Scotland

W﻿ho should attend?

This event is for funders only, on the understanding that any work that arises from it will be developed in partnership with the appropriate WVCS organisations.

Registering and more information

Who should attend?

How can funders help the women's sector influence change?