Admiration for those working in the charity sector

When my friend Beth Edberg called me on Friday to ask if I would scribe at the Scottish Community Foundation Women’s Fund lunch yesterday I agreed because she asked so nicely and I was going to be there anyway. Little did I know what I would learn from the women who were there. It was an inspiring event.

The Women’s Fund makes grants to charitable organisations working with women – so the clue is in the title.  I heard stories yesterday from women who run groups that

• provide support for prisoners’ partners and their children
• run childcare provision for vunerable single mums
• provide support and care for survivors ( never victims ) of rape and sexual abuse
• run drop in meeting groups in their community for women of all ages
• provide refuges and safe houses for women who have suffered domestic abuse
• support women from minority ethnic groups, refugees and asylum seekers
• run support groups for women with post natal depression
• help young homeless women into accommodation

That’s just a few.

I heard about hard work from dedicated individuals. Inevitably, given that the event was hosted by a grant funding organisation, much of the conversation was about how difficult it was to manage when funding was mainly available to allow projects to continue for a year – a luxury was 2 years – longer than that was virtually unheard of. But of course the women said that building and sustaining relationships with their user groups was hindered by not knowing if the organisation would exist after the next funding round.

This might give the impression that there was an air of despondancy. Nothing could be further from the truth. There was a great deal of energy in the room and new relationships and contacts were being created. The overwhelming message was if it was worth doing and there was a need that they would find a way.

Some of the women were volunteers – others in paid roles. Either way , being and remaining involved depended on them giving so much of themselves.

We should be grateful that there are people out there like them.