This year’s programme shares valuable insights into the funding landscape for women’s and girls’ organisations and platforms influential voices in the field of women’s rights.
Catch up on recorded sessions with campaigners, leaders and experts from across the UK women and girls sector by visiting the Summer Conference 2023 event page.
Conference programme
Welcome and opening keynote with Pragna Patel of Southall Black Sisters – 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM BST
The conference will begin with a welcome from Rebecca Gill, Rosa’s Chief Executive. This will be followed by a keynote speech from Pragna Patel, Director of Southall Black Sisters for 30 years, who will talk about the power of women’s and girls’ organisations in creating long-term social, political and cultural change for women and girls.
Pragna was one of the founders of Southall Black Sisters and has been centrally involved in some of their most important cases and campaigns involving domestic violence, immigration and religious fundamentalism. She is also a member of Feminist Dissent and has written extensively on race, gender and religion.
Break – 11:00 AM – 11:15 AM BST
Mapping the UK women and girls sector and its funding – 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM BST
Join Lorna Dowrick and Catherine Harris from Sheffield Hallam University for their discussion with Rosa Trustee, Kay Ali and Rebecca Gill, Rosa’s Chief Executive. This session will explore Rosa’s recent research report, the funding landscape and what it means for the women and girls sector.
Both Lorna and Catherine are part of the research team at The Centre for Regional, Economic and Social Research (CRESR) at Sheffield Hallam University. Earlier this year, Rosa, The National Lottery Community Fund, and Esmée Fairbairn Foundation commissioned the team to conduct some research to map the UK women and girls sector and its funding, which will be explored in detail during the session.
Lunch and meet the grantees – 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM BST
During lunch there will be a chance to meet and network with some of Rosa’s grantees – a range of women’s and girls’ organisations from across the UK. Speak to women’s charities such as Utulivu, Women of Worth, Lighthouse, Aawaz, Muslim Women’s Network, Apna Haq, Say Women, S.H.E, and Refugee Women Connect.
Funder Panel – 12:45 PM – 1:45 PM BST
Following lunch, you can hear about funding for the women and girls sector direct from funders such as The National Lottery Community Fund, Lloyds Bank Foundation, Rosa, Smallwood Trust and The Big Give. This session will focus on what you need to know before you submit an application and give you an insight into how decisions are made.
Break – 1:45 PM – 2:00 PM BST
Meet the funder breakouts – 2:00 PM – 2:25 PM BST
This is the first of two breakout sessions offering an opportunity to meet our funder panellists, to ask them questions and find out more about their funding. In this session, attendees will have the opportunity to talk to The National Lottery Community Fund, Lloyds Bank Foundation, Rosa, Smallwood Trust.
Meet the funder breakouts – 2:30 PM – 2:55 PM BST
The second of two ‘Meet the funder’ sessions, so you can choose which one you are most interested in coming along to.
Voices from the frontline: women tackling inequality – 3:05 PM – 4:00 PM BST
For our final session of the day, we will be joined by Evelyn James from WEN Wales, Megan Pickles of The Growing Club, Natasha Rattu from Karma Nirvana and Rosa Trustee, Lisa Raftery. We will explore the varied forms of campaigning and influencing work, and how essential it is to progress in culture, law and practice in women’s and girls’ lives.
Visit our Summer Conference 2023 page to access the recorded sessions and relive memorable moments from the event.