Inaugural West of England Women’s Commission meeting takes place in Bristol

The first meeting of the new West of England Women’s Commission has taken place at the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority offices in Bristol.

Bringing together partners from Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire from a range of sectors - from local government and NHS to universities and colleges, and regional businesses and charities.

The mission of the new body is to identify and address issues that impact women and girls in the region, and comes ahead of the Mayoral election in May 2025.

Topics on the agenda included priorities for the establishment of task groups - which will include women’s safety, skills and the economy, education and health. Chair Penny Gane outlined how these align with the wider aims of the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.

The new regional commission builds on the work undertaken over the last decade by Bristol Women’s Commission, which was disbanded when the position of Bristol Mayor disappeared.

Work is now underway on organisational structure, communications and branding. The next meeting will take place in June 2025 in Bath.