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Shadow Minister for Equalities Kate Green MP, and Shadow Minister for Education Karen Buck MP met local women and girls at Platform 51, a local women's centre in Lyons Crescent, who hosted a meeting to highlight the subject on employment and education opportunities for women in Kent
It was an opportunity for the MPs to hear first hand about the experience from local women, many of
whom have faced long-term unemployment, dropped out of education or were
young mothers.
In the meeting, a focus group of 15 local women highlighted their concerns for the need for flexible exmployment options, essential affordable childcare and fair treatment in employment.
“I
was very pleased to meet so many determined and articulate women at
Platform 51. They're ambitious and I was very impressed at their keenness
to work or study to get on in life", said Kate Green MP, Shadow Minister for Equalities, “We
should be doing all we can to help them achieve their goals – by
providing affordable childcare, and helping them to get the
qualifications they need to get good jobs.”
Centre Manager Von Dawson said that it was wonderful to welcome Kate Green, and Karen Buck to the Lyons Crescent centre to hear first hand about the difficulties women are facing locally, from dealing with redundance to bringing up a family on a low income,
"It
was a fantastic opportunity for women to talk, not only about the
troubles they have experienced, but also how they have managed to turn
these experiences around to help them become more resilient, and support
other women in difficult circumstances.
We
hope the MPs will be able to carry the messages they heard this week to
their colleagues in Parliament – women need more help in bringing down
barriers to employment.”
Platform 51 West Kent works with local women delivering programmes and courses including basic skills, confidence building, dealing with bullying and parenting courses for young mothers.
The centre can be contacted on 01732 365831 or email westkent@platform51.org
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