Our work Leadership Alternative Women’s Economy (AWE) Alternative Women’s Economy Who is AWE? AWE is the Alternative Women’s Economy. A dynamic network of women in and around the Greater Manchester area taking control of the narrative, creating a common voice to affect the policies that impact marginalised, low-income, working-class, Black and Minority Ethnic women and call for change. The Alternative Women’s Economy (AWE) and the Women’s Resource Centre (WRC) are working collaboratively to ensure the voices of marginalised women based in Greater Manchester are heard. Through their lived experience, marginalised women can expertly inform solutions for how society can work more equitably, but they are largely invisible to opinion-formers and policymakers. Their lived experiences go unheard, allowing huge inequalities to be embedded in the policies supposed to serve women. Our Aim Our fundamental goal is to promote women’s agency; we believe women should control their own narratives, especially when engaging with the media. AWE aims to equip Greater Manchester women’s organisations and their beneficiaries with the skills and confidence to engage with the media, allowing women to embed their stories and solutions within local and national policy. JOIN THE NETWORK What does AWE do? As part of a three-year plan, AWE and WRC are developing a hub where marginalised, low-income, working-class, Black and Minority Ethnic women tell their stories —articulating structural inequality and illuminating where and how policies must be changed. Building a bank of solutions and key messages so that women can confidently work with journalists to reach opinion-formers and policymakers to create the changes that are needed. Why does AWE exist? Through establishing the AWE network of women, we are equipping marginalised women in the Manchester area with the confidence, skills and knowledge to call for change. We provide women with the skills proven to enhance women’s lives. REQUEST INFORMATION EXPLORE OUR RESOURCES Working with the media WRC facilitates relationships that help journalists to seek out AWE members for stories, comments and guidance for content – not only for local stories but also giving a local angle to national and international news, serving as a catalyst to help marginalised voices reach a wider audience. We guide and support women to negotiate with journalists and other content creators, establishing rules of engagement which benefit the AWE’s organisations and individual women. We actively encourage journalists to adopt ethical practices in the stories they write. We strongly believe the media should not originate hateful material which advances discrimination based on disadvantage, e.g., disparaging the “working poor” or benefits recipients. Are you a journalist? GET IN TOUCH News Press: 'UK economy sees 0.2% growth in January – ONS': Reaction | The Intermediary, 13th March 2024 Comment: 'Mapping the UK women’s movement' | thinking, doing, changing, 15th February 2024 Press: International Women’s Day 2023: Poverty, wonder-working and Turnips’ | Morning Star, 8th March 2023 Manage Cookie Preferences