As the UK marked the centenary of some women gaining the vote Futures for Women was proud to know that its founder, Jessie Boucherett, played a part in starting the campaign for women’s suffrage.

After establishing the Society for Promoting the Employment of Women (now known as Futures for Women), Jessie became involved in many other aspects of the women’s movement, in the process developing an impressive feminist identity. The importance of the contribution she made to that movement has been largely overlooked by historians. It was Jessie’s immediate donation (of a sum equivalent to at least £2,000 today) offered during a discussion with Barbara Leigh Smith Bodichon in May 1866 which helped the campaign for women’s suffrage to get off the ground. On notepaper headed ‘Society for Promoting the Employment of Women in connexion with the NAPSS, 19 Langham Place, London’ Bodichon wrote to John Stuart Mill’s daughter Helen Taylor, suggesting that the latter should draft a petition to gain the vote for women. Bodichon wrote:

“Miss Boucherett who is here puts down £25 at once for expenses. I shall be every day this week at this office at 3 p.m. Could you write a petition – which you could bring with you.”

On 6 February the life and work of Jessie Boucherett was featured in two BBC programmes celebrating Vote100.  Dr Anne Bridger, historian and co-author of the book “Timely Assistance” which charts Jessie’s life and work, was interviewed on BBC Look North and BBC Radio Lincolnshire.

Jessie died in 1905, thirteen years before the vote was given to some women, and is buried in North Willingham churchyard in Lincolnshire.  But her legacy lives on in Futures for Women, who continue to assist women with the costs of further education and training to enable them to become financially independent and active members of our society.

International Women’s Day takes place each year on 8 March.  This is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.  The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.

International Women’s Day (IWD) has occurred for well over a century, with the first​ ​March 8​ ​IWD gathering supported by over a million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland.   Today, IWD belongs to all groups collectively everywhere.

Each year IWD has a theme and for 2018 this is “Press for Progress”.  Futures for Women would like to call on all its members, beneficiaries, ex-beneficiaries and supporters to help accelerate gender parity.  You can make your pledge below.  Further information on IWD 2018 can be found on their website.

Futures for Women is seeking new Trustees to join its Board.  We currently comprise five female Trustees – but you don’t have to be a woman to join us!  We would welcome anyone who supports our aims and feels that can bring a specific skill to our team of Trustees – such as fundraising, financial management, strategy planning or knowledge of higher education.

We meet in London three times per year, in March, June and November, and we also hold an annual Development Day in London.

If you are interested in finding out more about the role please contact our Secretary on futuresforwomen@btinternet.com and she can put you in contact with an existing Trustee for an initial conversation.

It was with great sadness that we learned that Elspeth Richards, Futures for Women Trustee and former Chair, had passed away at her home on Monday 7 August.

Elspeth became a Trustee of FfW in 2005 and held the position of Chair between 2011 and 2014.   Whilst in the position of Chair she worked closely with our current Secretary, Jane, during her induction period.  Elspeth also organised our 2013 fundraising literary lunch in Bruton where Award-winning Biographer, Critic, Broadcaster and Novelist Victoria Glendinning came along to deliver her talk “On Women and a Few Men”.

Elspeth spent her childhood on a hill farm in rural Wales. This gave her a life-long love of the countryside. At 18 she went to study drama at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.  After graduating she taught English and Drama in a range of secondary schools in both the state and independent sector in London and the West Country.

Much of her more recent work was with newly qualified teachers who frequently develop voice problems early in their careers. Elspeth helped professional voice users with presentation and vocal skills. She was also a Diocesan Voice Consultant and ran voice workshops for newly ordained clergy, an increasing number of whom are now women.

As the mother of two daughters, Elspeth believed that educated and qualified women are valued in the work place, in the community, and that they are a powerful influence in their families.   She therefore became interested in the work of FfW precisely because we help women to fulfil their ambitions by completing their courses and becoming self-supporting.  In this regard Elspeth took a special interest in selecting our candidates for interview and was a member of our short-listing panel.  Her contributions to our discussions were always informed, perceptive and constructive. Elspeth also secured, through her son Simon, the invaluable support of ING in making rooms and refreshments available for our meetings in London.

Elspeth’s input to our Trustee meetings will be missed greatly. Our thoughts are with Elspeth’s husband Dan, and their family and friends, as they adjust to life without her.

Our Trustees’ report and accounts for the financial year ending 31 December 2016 are now available for download.

SignedAccounts2016

Former Futures for Women Trustee and Chairman, Dr Carolyn Boulter, has made history by becoming the first female Master of the Clothworkers’ Company.  Carolyn is the 498^th Master of the Clothworkers’ Company and was elected at a ceremony in London on 7 June 2017.  She will take the oath and be installed on 19^th July and will serve for one year.

Founded by Royal Charter in 1528, the original purpose of The Clothworkers’ Company was to protect its members and promote the craft of cloth-finishing within the City of London.  The Company’s role today is essentially philanthropic and the Clothworkers’ Foundation makes annual grants of £5 million per year.

Dr Carolyn Boulter served as a Trustee of Futures for Women for 35 years and held the position of Chairman of the Board for several years during her tenure.   She was instrumental in introducing new, more efficient, administrative processes for the charity and also instigated the annual Development Day meeting which gives Trustees an opportunity to discuss a specific issue.  Our lunch at Englefield House in March 2015 was masterminded by Carolyn who worked tirelessly to promote the event to her contacts in her local community.

Commenting on her appointment as Master of the Clothworkers’ Company Carolyn said: “Clothworker blood flows in my veins and I am honoured and delighted to carry on the family tradition of service to the Company as a scientist, educationalist and especially as a woman”.

Our Annual General Meeting for 2017 was held once again in the magnificent Pavilion Suite in PricewaterhouseCooper’s office in More London.  Our thanks go to Emma Whalley Hands for arranging the meeting room for us.

After the business of the meeting had been concluded AGM Chairman Lady Appleyard paid tribute to retiring Trustee, Karen Goldie Morrison.  Karen has served as a Trustee on Futures for Women for 7 years and during that time has worked with two Secretaries to improve administrative efficiency of the charity, arranged complimentary meeting space and donated office equipment.

Following her retirement Karen will remain a member of Futures for Women but will be spending more time with her new grand-daughter.

International Women’s Day – an annual world-wide event to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women – takes place on 8 March.

This year the campaign theme is #BeBoldForChange – to help forge a better working world.

The work of Futures for Women – giving interest-free loans to women to help with the costs of further education and training – could not be more relevant to this year’s campaign.   After graduating from a wide range of post-graduate degrees and other types of training our grantees go on to forge successful careers in sectors such as medicine, architecture, journalism, environmental protection and law.  But we are oversubscribed with applications and can only assist 10% of the women that approach us for a loan.

Please consider supporting this year’s  campaign by making a pledge to #BeBoldForChange

And please consider supporting the work of Futures for Women.

In 2017 International Women’s Day is being held on 8 March.  This is world-wide day that celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women.

As part of the 2017 campaign people are being asked to make a pledge for parity.    As a charity that supports the further education of women via interest-free loans Futures for Women is delighted make a pledge to help women and girls achieve their ambitions.

Please consider making your own pledge via the link below and help women all around the world to achieve parity.