This International Women's Day, we celebrate both the women who give their time to be Pilotlighters and the women who run the charities who partner with us - not to mention the millions that these charities support. One Pilotlighter, Louise Jacobs, shares her own views on what she has learnt from working with one very special women-led charity.
Being a woman, I think you do need to work harder and make sure that your voice is heard, but I believe people are rewarded principally on their merits. If you are good at what you do then people will listen to you and they will respect you – which is the same if you are a man or a woman. I appreciate that I am lucky to be living at a time when gender equality is better than it has ever been. I feel fortunate and think about those that have helped make this happen.
The not-for-profit world is very hard for women at a senior level and there are not, in my view, enough women in trustee roles, although it seems like that is beginning to change as women are becoming more confident and they realise they have plenty to offer around a trustee table. There are a numbers of causes that affect women specifically and where they want to have a voice.
My fellow Pilotlighters and I are working with the Women’s Aid Federation, a fascinating and important charity. As with every Pilotlight engagement, the team is considering the charity’s strategic focus and sustainability. In this case, we are also supporting them to continue being as effective a voice as possible for their member organisations, representing their interests and ensuring women in crisis have access to the support they need. This has meant a deep engagement for me with the work done by domestic abuse organisations across the country.
Through this project I have found that, although gender equality is certainly getting better, I have been shocked to learn that the numbers involved in domestic abuse are so much bigger than I had originally ever thought. Two women every week are killed by their partner or ex, while the police get a call about domestic violence every 30 seconds. What’s more, 84% of victims in cases that go to court are women. Equality in some cases clearly has quite some way to go.
"I have been shocked to learn that the numbers involved in domestic abuse are so much bigger than I had originally ever thought. Equality in some cases clearly has quite some way to go.”
Whilst working with Women’s Aid, I have also tried to think about how a membership organisation like this really helps some of their smaller members who may not otherwise have a voice. I have seen how, by speaking as one body, they have real strength with government and other decision-making organisations. I initially had my doubts about working with a charity with an all-female team both at professional and trustee level, but somehow it makes them stronger, more focused and cohesive as a team and there is never a need to question their commitment. All the women I have met who work with Women’s Aid believe passionately in the cause, they work tirelessly to represent their members and provide them with the best offering that they can. I have nothing but admiration for them.
It is important for women to continue to support these charities. Although equality has come a long way and it is indeed to be celebrated, there is still quite clearly an inequality between men and women – often with drastic consequences – and we need to do what we can to support those that need our help. We need to continue the work that has been started so that our daughters can live in a world where there is no "stronger" gender but where real equality can exist.
By Louise Jacobs (pictured), Pilotlighter. Louise has worked in both the commercial world at Dewe Rogerson, a financial PR and marketing business, as well as a number of years in venture capital. More recently, Louise has worked in the not-for-profit sector as both a Trustee and a Chief Executive of a London-based educational and cultural organisation. Louise has developed a unique understanding of the need for charities to maximise efficiency and now advises charities specifically on strategic collaborations such as joint ventures, partnerships and mergers.