Hello and welcome to our very first monthly blog! I’m Debra Newrick, and I’m absolutely delighted to be starting this journey with Bristol Women’s Voice in a role that’s truly close to my heart – ensuring that women in Bristol over 55 have their voices heard around health inequalities and discrimination.
This month has been nothing short of extraordinary as we’ve begun building something special together. Let me take you through our incredible first four weeks.
Week 1: Hitting the Ground Running
What a way to start! Within my first week, I had the privilege of attending the NIHR School for Public Health Research Conference in Bristol alongside Katy Taylor, Director of Bristol Women’s Voice. I was able to share a brief vision of our project delivery and perceived outcomes – though as I explained to the audience, we are yet to discover exactly what this will look like because our women over 55 in Bristol will build this piece by piece, with their voices firmly at the centre.
The excitement was building towards our very first meeting, and I was thrilled to announce our inaugural gathering scheduled for Wednesday 11 June.
Week 2: Reconnecting and Building Bridges
Week Two brought energy and inspiration! I’ve been reconnecting with brilliant community organisations – some old friends I haven’t seen in years, and exciting new partnerships forming.
A huge highlight was meeting Megan, Director at Bristol Disability Equality Forum. The warm welcome, inspiring tour of their beautiful new offices, and the generous offer of a community hot desk space has opened up wonderful possibilities for collaboration.
I also had the pleasure of catching up with Suad, CEO of Somali Kitchen. The invitation to explore their vibrant Easton and South Bristol groups around
Over 55s Health showed me the real community-led energy and insight that exists across our city. And I must mention – Ababo’s Cuisine provided the most delicious Lentil Dahl and Injera, proving that good food truly is fuel for both the soul and the important work ahead!
Week 3: Learning and Growing Our Network
My third week took me beyond Bristol to Birmingham, where I had the privilege of joining the women’s budget group for their local data project. The experience was eye-opening – it’s genuinely shocking how little data is available when you dive deep into women’s health issues for our age group. However, I’m pleased to say I made valuable new connections across the UK with others working in health, creating a network of support and shared learning.
Week 4: Our First Meeting – What a Success!
The culmination of our month was our amazing first Over 55s Women’s Health Discrimination meeting at Broadmead Baptist Church. The atmosphere was fantastic, filled with rich conversations about women’s health over 55.
Together, we started planning our project and establishing our group rules – the foundation stones of what we’re building together.
Thank you to all the women who took part and made this first meeting so special. Your energy, insights, and commitment are what will drive this project forward.
Looking Ahead
As we move into our second month, I’m filled with excitement about what we’ll achieve together. This project belongs to all of us, and every voice matters in shaping how we address health inequalities and discrimination facing women over 55 in Bristol.
Our next meeting will be on Wednesday 30 July at the Bristol Central Quakers House, you can register to attend here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1431188857399?aff=oddtdtcreator
If you’re interested in joining us or want to know more about upcoming meetings and activities, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
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Contact Information: Debra Newrick, Health Coordinator
Email: healthcoordinator@bristolwomensvoice.org.uk
Mobile: 0755 7540 301
