Local women part of new gender equality panel

Amy Rothwell, a trustee of WHAG, is part of the Greater Manchester Women and Girls Equality Panel

Two Rochdale women form part of a new panel set up to accelerate gender equality in Greater Manchester.

Rebecca Steele, CEO of Rochdale and District Mind, and Amy Rothwell, a trustee of WHAG (formerly the Women’s Housing Action Group) join 18 other women from across the 10 boroughs as the Greater Manchester Women and Girls Equality Panel.

The panel aims to 'enable women and girls to live their best life in Greater Manchester'.

Amy said: “It’s a significant honour to have been accepted onto the new Greater Manchester Women and Girls Equality Panel, alongside such a magnificent line up. 

“I am equally proud to have served as a trustee of WHAG over the last three years, it’s a small, passionate organisation with strong values, committed to a better quality of life for women and their families. 

“Alongside my role championing women in leadership with Boo Coaching and Consulting and also as Chair of Bolton Maternity Partnership, I feel well placed to support positive change for women and girls in the North West.”

Rochdale and District Mind has also been contacted for comment.

Co-chaired by Tameside Council Leader, Brenda Warrington, and Pam Smith, Chief Executive of Stockport Council, the Greater Manchester Women and Girls Equality Panel will establish a clear vision for women and girls in Greater Manchester to understand issues and inequalities affecting their lives, and recognise women and girls’ particular experience of Covid.

It will meet on a quarterly basis and will develop a detailed two year action plan focusing on priority areas for intervention in addressing gender inequality within Greater Manchester.

Earlier this year, panel membership applications were opened to women across the city-region to apply to join. In all, 17 women were ultimately chosen as participants. They are joined by the two co-chairs and the Deputy Mayor to form the 20 women tasked with establishing a clear vision for the future for women and girls in Greater Manchester.

Bev Hughes, Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester for Policing, Crime, Criminal Justice and Fire, added: “I’ve worked in public life for many years and I am passionate about increasing the number of women in influential, decision-making roles. That is why I welcome the first meeting of the new Greater Manchester Women and Girls Equality Panel.

“Our city-region has a proud history forged by some truly exceptional women – Emmeline Pankhurst, Victoria Wood, Marie Stopes and Kathleen Ollerenshaw among them. My hope is that women and girls are inspired and boosted by the work of this new Panel to mould Greater Manchester for generations to come.”

WHAG was formed in 1981 and aims to provide affordable housing to homeless women aged 16-65, and runs domestic abuse services across Rochdale, Bury, Cheshire West and Chester.

Rochdale & District Mind began in 1988, started by a group of people with poor mental health. It became the first local mental health advocacy service as Rochdale Mind before becoming Rochdale and District Mind in 1998.