Values & Priorities

Our Values

Our Values form the core of what we do, how we do it and why.

Strengths-Based

We base what we do on the premise that all women have strengths and that all women have the capacity to heal, grow, connect and contribute.

Collaborative

We work on the basis that our collective efforts can achieve greater results than any one of us working alone and that together we can tackle the ‘big’ issues that some women face

Inclusive

We include everyone in our conversations without prejudice. All stories deserve to be heard.

Neutral

We do not offer opinion or align ourselves to political views other than when the safety of an individual or community is at risk.

Safe

We protect the safety of everyone we work with above all else. No-one will be harmed or victimized as a result of what we do.

Focused

We prioritise our work to impact those people most in need of what we do. We use the evidence available to us to make these judgements and we are transparent about the decisions we make.

Our Priorities

As part of our New Strategy, every year, Women’s Action Network Dorset (WAND) will choose 3 priorities – specific issues, specific communities of women or specific causes on which we will focus our attention, raise funds and create partnerships and opportunities. In 2022 these will be our priorities:

1. Women from minority or marginalised backgrounds, particularly those from racialised communities.

“If you are from a minority in a county where there are few minorities, that makes you even more of a minority. Not many people really get that” Natalie Sherring CEO Dorset Race Equality Council April 2021

2. Young Women experiencing difficulty with their mental health

“The number of young women repeatedly attempting to end their lives by suicide is at an alarming and tragic all time high” Public Health Dorset October 2021

3. Women who have experienced gender-based violence, domestic violence, abuse or modern day slavery

“Many survivors of domestic abuse are unable to access specialist help or are delayed in doing so for a long time” Women’s Aid Domestic Abuse report early Release January 2022