Alternative Women’s Economy (AWE)

What is Alternative Women’s Economy (AWE)?

The Alternative Women’s Economy (AWE) project is led by Black and minority women living in Greater Manchester. AWE has two key aims, they are.

  1. To develop economic networks that support women and their communities to be financially independent.
  2. Create a platform for women to come together to elevate the ‘voice’ of women from Black and minority communities to lead, influence and change decisions, policies and practices that negatively impact upon them and their communities.

AWE members want to work with local politicians, policy makers, developer, businesses and organisations to develop initiatives, programmes and projects that change their environments and improve their communities. To influence decision makers to include and listen to women from Black and minority communities when they make key decisions, and they want to work with policy makers to ensure they consider the impact of regulation and practise on Black and minority communities. 

The AWE Network Priorities

Migrant Women - Migrant Women face systemic barriers due to restrictive immigration policies, limited access to public funds, and precarious employment conditions. We advocate for equitable treatment and support, recognising their valuable contributions and their rights are upheld.

Economic Freedom - Economic empowerment is fundamental to women's autonomy. AWE strives for women to have equal access to employment opportunities, fair wages, and financial independence. AWE works to make the funding landscape more flexibility, diverse and encourages long-term financial independence.

Women in Poverty - Poverty disproportionately affects women, limiting their opportunities and well-being. AWE is committed to addressing the root causes of women's poverty and advocating for systemic change. AWE wants a fair approach to the resources including the benefits and grants.

Women and Health - Health disparities among women, particularly those from Black and minoritised communities, are unacceptable. Inequalities in maternal health outcomes are shocking and concerning!

“Maternal mortality for Black Women is currently almost four times higher than for white women” House of Commons women and Equalities Committee, April 2023

Awe advocates for equitable healthcare access and services that address the needs of all women.

Rights to Housing - Safe and affordable housing is a fundamental human right. Awe is dedicated to ensuring that all women across Greater Manchester, regardless of immigration status, have access to secure housing free from discrimination and violence.

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The Alternative Women’s Economy




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AWE Criteria?

  • Feminist and anti-racist ethos that is led by and for BREM Women.
  • Our services are delivered by and for BREM Women.
  • We will place the needs of BREM Women at the centre of policy and practice in Greater Manchester
  • We will speak as one collective voice.
  • Committed to non-competitive bidding for commissioned work.
  • Commitment to exploring alternative economic models for the development and sustainability of women’s organisations.
  • Committed to understanding and recognising the structural nature of women’s discrimination and oppression.

More information about AWE’s priorities

  1. Rights for Migrant Women

Policy Statement:

Migrant women in Manchester face systemic barriers due to restrictive immigration policies, limited access to public funds, and precarious employment conditions. We advocate for equitable treatment and support for migrant women in the city, recognising their valuable contributions and ensuring their rights are upheld and increased. 

Policy Asks:

  • Abolish the 'No Recourse to Public Funds' (NRPF) condition to allow migrant women access to essential services and support to escape violent and abusive relationships. They need economic independence. 
  • Allow people awaiting Home Office decisions to work legally earlier*, thus permitting them to be financially independent of the state. This will give them structure and opportunities to improve their English. (*Asylum seekers can only currently apply to work in certain jobs if they've waited more than 12 months for a decision on their case)
  • The right to safe reporting – the placement of a firewall between the Police and Immigration Enforcement, so that migrant women can report the violence they experience without fear of detention, criminalisation or deportation from the UK. 

Resources:

 

2. Rights to Economic Freedom

Policy Statement:

Economic empowerment is fundamental to women's autonomy. We strive for a Greater Manchester where women have equal access to employment opportunities, fair wages, and financial independence. Women's organisations across the city, working on the frontline, should not have to provide their life-saving work on a shoestring. The funding landscape needs more flexibility and diversity, long-term grants, and needs to encourage long-term financial independence through community asset management and more collaboration.

Policy Asks:

  • Promote flexible working arrangements and affordable childcare to support women's participation in the workforce.
  • Support women-led enterprises through targeted funding, business development and mentoring programs that reach women from Black and minoritised communities.
  • Long-term, ring-fenced grants for Black and minoritised women's organisations. 
  • More accountable and gender-responsive regional and local budgeting for women and girls.
  • Increased, options for the VCS to build long-term financial independence, with processes that are transparent through, for example, asset ownership and management.
  • Increased representation of Black and Minorities communities in local strategic planning and policy making, across Greater Manchester such as health, business, voluntary and community sector.
  • A review and reset of statutory Commissioned services to support smaller, trusted organisations particularly those who act as anchors to Black and minoritised communities.  

Resources:

 

3. Rights for Women in Poverty

Policy Statement:

Poverty disproportionately affects women, limiting their opportunities and well-being. AWE is committed to addressing the root causes of women's poverty and advocating for systemic change. AWE advocates a fair approach to the welfare benefits system and will campaign for more resources in areas and communities where this is essential.

Policy Asks:

  •  A fair approach to the welfare benefits system, no cuts to disability benefits, reintroduce the winter fuel allowance and lift the 2-child benefit cap.
  • More free and affordable childcare.
  • Provide targeted training and support services for women experiencing poverty through, fully funded, specialist, trauma-informed women's organisations. 

Resources:

4. Right to Reduce Health Inequalities

Policy Statement:

Health disparities among women, particularly those from Black and minoritised communities, are unacceptable. Inequalities in maternal health outcomes are shocking! Racism and bias in the NHS is a systemic problem. (Black) women's health concerns are more often dismissed and trivialised.

“Maternal mortality for Black Women is currently almost four times higher than for white women” House of Commons women and Equalities Committee, April 2023

Awe advocates for equitable healthcare access and services that address the specific needs of all women.

Policy Asks:

  • Ensure equitable access and outcomes of reproductive and sexual health services for all women.
  • Address mental health disparities by increasing services, for Black and minoritised women, that are gender-sensitive and culturally competent. This can be achieved through investment in localised Black and minoritised women's organisations and trauma-informed, women-only spaces is needed. 
  • Implement more community-based health initiatives targeting underserved populations.
  • VAWG should be treated nationally as (and resourced) as a public health crisis. 

Resources:

5. Rights to Housing

Policy Statement:

Safe and affordable housing is a fundamental human right.  Awe is dedicated to ensuring that all women across Greater Manchester, regardless of immigration status, have access to secure housing free from discrimination and violence.

Policy Asks:

  • Increase the availability of refuge beds and follow-on affordable housing for all VAWG survivors.
  • Increase the availability of refuge beds and safe housing for women who have NRPF, those with NRPF and those who have received refugee status.
  • More funding for specialist women's support services (rather than generic housing providers) to help women fleeing violence and abuse access culturally sensitive housing options. 
  • Ensure women are given a voice and a choice in where they are housed. Black and minoritised women need to be given an informed choice, so they are housed in places of safety against racist violence and aggression.
  • End the use of institutional settings, such as hotels, for housing asylum-seeking women.

Resources:

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Author: Bowale Fadare

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