People ask me why I wanted to set up an event to bring the various
campaign groups together and I can only say it came about by pure chance. I was stood in a field behind my house whilst feeding the sheep at the rescue I volunteer for, discussing my frustrations with a neighbour about the factions that have developed across the 1950’s women’s campaign and the damage that it was doing to our cause. That neighbour happened to own an online conference company. He kindly offered to give us his support as he despised the way we had been treated. As I thought about it more and more or I realised that many women, like me, would prefer to see a better way forward than is currently being taken, and with this in mind, I put out feelers for the event which were enthusiastically received and I knew that it was something we should attempt to do. Many committed group leaders are already trying to work together to move the campaign forward and I felt that that for those amazing, proactive women it must be sometimes like wading through mud. You certainly have to admire their stamina. Every single woman involved has one main goal, and that is to get Justice for the terrible situation that we have been placed in. Whilst compensation will not mend broken lives or bring back the women who have died through stress, suicide, overwork, and in poverty, it would help those left to move forward in their retirement with less dread for the future, and if nothing else, honour the memory of those women we have lost to this callous misuse of our trust by government. One of the things that constantly comes up as causing problems, is the disagreement on compensation methods or proposals put forward. Whilst it is important that we are able to voice what would compensate us to some degree for this injustice, it should not have become the cause of division. The onus MUST be on the government to provide a solution to the terrible damage it has inflicted upon us and it should not be the responsibility of the 1950s women to lay the path before them. It is however, important that we are unified enough off to come together across our various support groups in sufficient numbers as to embarrass the government into providing a fair solution. The intention of this online event is to discuss simple ways that different groups can find to support the campaign as a whole, and how we can come together ‘regardless of group asks’ to make an effective campaigning mass lobby that will put the pressure on. It will also be good to provide a platform where women across the UK can see their group leaders working cohesively as a team. This event is not intended to unify groups under any umbrella or take over any groups. instead our hope is that it will boost morale and amplify the call for unity. It will also allow women to keep up-to-date with what is going on on across the groups. I thank all the ground leaders who have responded positively and hope that this event sets up an example and platform for more to come together going forward. Please remember this one thing UNITY does not have to mean UNIFICATION but unity between all the groups is something that I personally would rejoice in and in that I know I am not alone. The Event is being held online on Saturday 12th December at 1pm We will soon be issuing booking information for you to observe the event.
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