We were lucky enough to be joined by Anneliese Dodds MP at our most recent Public Policy Roundtable which focused on the topic of Progressing the Equalities Agenda.
It was an insightful and thought-provoking evening which explored the Government’s plan to modernise the Equalities Agenda, and what sort of impact national policies have at a local level.
Anneliese discussed some of the main challenges the government are facing when translating ambitious national policy into tangible, on-the-ground change, including:
- Deciding on which areas to prioritise when there are so many pressing needs.
- The sheer complexity of getting diverse stakeholders from across different sectors (from councils, to banks and transport systems etc) on the same page and fully invested.
- Battling Disinformation: A critical challenge, especially when trying to demonstrate that focusing on equalities benefits everyone, for example, showing how supporting women’s equality positively impacts men and children of both sexes.
Reflecting on the evening, Henock Hailemariam, Director of Ubuntu Pledge C.I.C. said:
“Attending the Public Policy Roundtable organised by Westway Trust was incredibly valuable. The discussion highlighted the Trust’s crucial role in bringing diverse community voices into key policy debates on issues such as women’s empowerment, safer neighbourhoods, digital inclusion, and fairer access to affordable housing. Anneliese Dodds’ insights were particularly inspiring, reinforcing how local experiences can and must inform national policy. It was a powerful reminder of the impact of community-driven change.”
Louise Curd, CEO of HELP Counselling Centre, also shared her thoughts on the event:
“As ever, Westway provided an excellent opportunity for the community to come together and discuss issues of importance in the local area. I enjoyed the networking and found the discussion with Anneliese Dodds MP very interesting. I sincerely hope she follows up on some of the discussion points as promised. Thank you Westway for an enjoyable event.”
A huge thank you to Anneliese for coming to meet us all, and to everyone who attended and contributed. Your insightful questions and shared experiences were invaluable in shaping the discussion and offering perspective for everyone’s personal and organisational journey.