By Raisha Jesmin, Bristol Women’s Voice Volunteer
Self-care Tools and Techniques to Calm the Nervous System led by Womankind
Led by mental-health based charity Womankind, this session provided insights into the impact of trauma on nervous systems and highlighted the importance of self-care, particularly in the context of the cost of living crisis and increasing violence against women.
Self-care practices, such as crafts and mindfulness, may not be remedies to entrenched societal problems, but they can be highly empowering in the path towards growth and recovery.
Women and Economic Justice: tackling the gendered impact of the cost-of-living crisis
This panel session brought together leading figures in the policy-making scene in Bristol to discuss the gendered nature of the cost of living crisis, with a focus on carers and care workers.
Chaired by Aisha Thomas from Representation Matters; panellists in this session were:
- Carina Andrews, Invisible Army CIC
- Sara Davies, Bristol Poverty Institute
- Anndeloris Chacon, Bristol Black Carers
- Heather Mack, Deputy Leader of Bristol City Council
- Katy Taylor, Bristol Women’s Voice
- Stephen Williams, Chair of Public Health and Communities Policy Commitee
The speakers shed light on the significance of adopting gendered lenses to policies and measures to tackle the cost of living crisis which disproportionately impacts women and minoritised communities in Bristol; as raised by the speakers, women continue to confront pay gaps, lack of economic opportunities, and poor flexibility in workplaces, all of which are barriers to achieving economic justice.
Women and minoritised communities are also overrepresented in the care sector, often neglected and under-appreciated despite their contributions.
The speakers spoke on the inadequacies in existing policies for carers and care workers, such as the care allowance which has a nonsensical assessment procedure and fails to effectively support carers and care workers.
In identifying potential solutions and reforms, the panelists emphasised the need for co-produced policies and centering the voices of women and other minorities in decision-making processes.
