Since we were founded in 2001, Bristol Fawcett has campaigned on a huge range of issues.  We have lobbied central and local government, led demonstrations, worked with other local organisations, responded to numerous consultations and worked hard to keep gender equality firmly in the local spotlight.

• We have led demonstrations in Bristol on equal pay and on rape crisis provision
  

We have lobbied and campaigned for:

• Better pension provision for women
  
• Better support for women who have been raped and sexually assaulted
  
• Improved legislation for gender equality
  
• Action on human trafficking
  
• Action on licensing legislation
  
• Action on gender equality in schools and colleges
  
• Improved access for women into public life
• Better provision for women offenders in the criminal justice system

Current projects and events
Bristol Fawcett members currently have a strategic focus on the following areas:

Gender Equality in Education
We want schools and colleges in Bristol to provide first-rate education about gender equality, including sexual and domestic violence.  We also want schools and colleges to meet their requirements under law to develop and publish Gender Equality Schemes and Action Plans.  Find out more about our project, and about what you can do, here.

Lapdancing Clubs
We support early adoption of the new reforms to licensing legislation.  We also want to educate people about the problematic aspects of striptease and lapdancing clubs.  Find out more here.  

Representation of women in the media
In July 2007, the group undertook an action around representation of women in the media.  Members each chose a topic within this broad theme to document and analyse their individual experiences and observations during that day of women’s representation in the media.  The results were collated and some are available on our website, here.  In 2008 we joined forces with Bristol Feminist Network for a bigger project, exhibition and series of events which are documented here.  We continued this exciting project in 2009.  If you would like to receive information about our work or events connected with the representation of women in the media, please join our contacts database here.  If you would like to join in with our next project, please email mediarepresentation@bristolfawcett.org.uk for more details.

Recent and ongoing projects

Sexual Violence
Bristol Fawcett has worked with others for several years to improve local services for women affected by sexual violence. In 2006 Bristol Fawcett led a demonstration on College Green about the lack of a rape crisis centre in Bristol.  There has since been significant local improvement in attention given to sexual violence.  Bristol Fawcett inputs into the Safer Bristol Partnership’s Rape and Sexual Assault Strategic Group and we worked towards the launch of Bristol’s SARC (sexual assault referral centre: The Bridge) which opened in 2008.  We also support the development of Bristol's Rape Crisis Centre, which opened in 2009.  We also support Bristol Feminist Network's Reclaim the Night campaign.  Find out more about our work on sexual violence here.  If you would like to receive information about our work or events connected with violence against women, please join our contacts database.  If you would like to get involved with Rape Crisis Bristol, please visit their website for more details. 

Human Trafficking

In 2007 Bristol Fawcett undertook a review of work being done around the trafficking of women in the local area.  Members met with journalists and the police, and produced a report highlighting the lack of investigative work being undertaken.  Trafficking – whether for forced marriage, or forced labour including sexual exploitation - is very often not in the public domain and intelligence is not easy to come by.  Proactive work in the area is rare.  Bristol Fawcett held a conference in 2009 on the trafficking of women for sexual exploitation.  In 2009 Bristol City Council recognised the need to develop strategy and services around the issue of trafficking.  Bristol Fawcett are members of the Bristol Roundtable on human trafficking, working to increase awareness and to influence policy and service provision locally.  Visit our page on trafficking here.
If you would like to receive information about our work or events connected with human trafficking, please join our contacts database here.  

Join us!!!