News for International Women's Day
OPPORTUNITY 2000
Towards a Balanced Workforce
Launched on 28 October with the public support of PM John Major, Opportunity 2000 aims to get more women in the work place, and improving their lot when they're there.
The campaign is the product of a year's work initiated by the non-profit making organisation, "Business in the Community", and included a Target Team of 16 "large British companies" -- all represented at the upper management level.
Stage 1 of the campaign included 61 companies publicly committing themselves to increasing womens' opportunities in the workplace by the year 2000. By the start of stage 2 of the campaign, 80 companies had made this pledge, and Equal Opportunities Development Manager, Ms. Flavia Swann, will be outlining the progress made to date (along with a more detailed overview of the scheme) in her talk at the Willfield Centre, on 8th March.
And with 90% of company Managing Directors still
being men, it's clear that those involved will have
their work cut out in the next 8 years.
Safety for Women
With reports of serious crimes ever on the increase (and sometimes the crimes themselves!), there's probably not a woman in the country who feels safe going out and about alone (day or night) -- so this talk, by Crime Prevention Officer, Sgt Diane Moore, should be up everybody's street (no pun intended).
And with so many attacks against women being in the victim's own home Sgt Moore's advice on how to respond to dangerous situations (whether in the home, car, or on the streets) should help all women. Perhaps, even of more help will be the shrill alarm devices being made available by Markitwise International (the manufacturers), and which will be on sale all this week (till the 8th) at Radio Stoke's reception, Cheapside, Hanely, at the reduced price of £5. (They produce a 115 decibel shrill, enough to distract any attacker -- and attract a friendly policeperson?)
Return to Work
As part of the International Women's Day celebrations, the Willfield Open Learning Centre will be opening its doors Suunday 8th March to give women the chance to go along and see what's on offer.
Hate to spoil a surprise but what's on offer will most likely include help for those following nursing courses, the chance to improve your maths & english skills, and to get to grips with computers (inc. word-processing) and the Return to Work course.
This latter includes working with a tutor to map out a series of practical goals relating to career, further education, etc. As this course seems mainly the province of part-time tutor, Josie Luton, those who can't make it on the day are advised to ring the Centre Monday nights late Wednesday afternoons, or anytime Thursday. You can do this on 599144.
Copyright The Bentilean 1999
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