One Million Women and Girls campaign

01/09/2026

Women’s lower average incomes and wealth reduce access to home ownership. In 2025, the average UK house price was around nine times the median man’s salary but thirteen times the median woman’s salary. Just one reason why we need a gendered approach to the housing crisis.

Explore how the UK housing crisis affects women and men differently, and what needs to change to create a fairer housing system

30/07/2026

What do we want from the new Government? 'investing in social care, making sure devolution works for women, and embedding gender equality into economic policymaking.'

12/07/2026

Did you know you can submit questions to your local council meetings?

Council meetings are public meetings. Your local councillors are elected to represent you and they are accountable to you.

How you submit questions can vary and they usually need to be submitted in advance. Upcoming full council meetings in July:

Durham Council:
Next full council meeting at 10am on 15th July
Any questions to be submitted by noon on 10th July

Gateshead Council:
Next full council meeting at 2.30pm on 16th July
Any questions to be submitted by 13th July

North Tyneside Council:
Next full council meeting at 6pm on 23rd July
Any questions to be submitted by 5pm on 14th July
www.northtyneside.gov.uk/ask-question-full-council

South Tyneside Council:
Next full council meeting at 6pm on 30th July
Any questions to be submitted by noon on 16th July

You can find the details of your local council meetings here:
Durham: https://democracy.durham.gov.uk/mgCalendarMonthView.aspx
Sunderland: https://committees.sunderland.gov.uk/committees/cmis5/Meetings.aspx
Gateshead: https://gateshead.moderngov.co.uk/mgCalendarMonthView.aspx
South Tyneside: https://www.southtyneside.gov.uk/article/1310/Upcoming-committee-meetings
North Tyneside: https://democracy.northtyneside.gov.uk/mgCalendarMonthView.aspx
Newcastle: https://newcastle.gov.uk/local-government/council-meetings-and-decision-making/council-meetings
Northumberland: https://northumberland.moderngov.co.uk/uuCoverPage.aspx

10/07/2026

Council meetings are public meetings. Your local councillors are elected to represent the people living in your area, and local councils make decisions which affect your daily life - and the lives of women and girls in your community.

✔You have a right to observe council meetings, including cabinet meetings, committee meetings, and sub-committees.

✔Your council must publish details of the meeting at least 5 days in advance, including on their website and with relevant documents like agendas and minutes.

✔You have a right to ask questions, but which meetings and how you submit questions can vary from council to council.

✔Elected representatives and council officers should expect to be held to account for their comments and votes in meetings, and reporting and filming is allowed.

Upcoming full council meetings in July:

Durham Council:
Next full council meeting at 10am on 15th July
Any questions to be submitted by noon on 10th July

Gateshead Council:
Next full council meeting at 2.30pm on 16th July
Any questions to be submitted by 13th July

North Tyneside Council:
Next full council meeting at 6pm on 23rd July
Any questions to be submitted by 15th July

South Tyneside Council:
Next full council meeting at 6pm on 30th July
Any questions to be submitted by noon on 16th July

You can find the details of your local council meetings here:
Durham: https://democracy.durham.gov.uk/mgCalendarMonthView.aspx
Sunderland: https://committees.sunderland.gov.uk/committees/cmis5/Meetings.aspx
Gateshead: https://gateshead.moderngov.co.uk/mgCalendarMonthView.aspx
South Tyneside: https://www.southtyneside.gov.uk/article/1310/Upcoming-committee-meetings
North Tyneside: https://democracy.northtyneside.gov.uk/mgCalendarMonthView.aspx
Newcastle: https://newcastle.gov.uk/local-government/council-meetings-and-decision-making/council-meetings
Northumberland: https://northumberland.moderngov.co.uk/uuCoverPage.aspx

21/06/2026

Did you know the new Metro trains are designed to be much safer for everyone – with safer seating, camera’s covering everything and numbers to call if something goes wrong?

The safety of women and girls on public transport is always a key issue you raise with us – there’s still lots to do but this is a great start - what else would you like to see?

19/06/2026

Did you know that you can observe many of your local council meetings, including committee meetings?

Here's one you might be interested in - Gateshead Council's Women & Girls Committee are meeting next week, on Thursday 25th June at 4.30pm

You can find the details, including which room, along with a calendar of other meetings plus agendas and minutes here: www.gateshead.gov.uk/article/1800/Councillors-and-committees

If you'd like to observe the meeting you need to register and get a visitors badge for the Civic Centre first - so get there early!

17/06/2026

Whether you're already part of the movement or are just discovering our work, we'd love to stay in touch.

Follow across our social media channels for updates on Become the Bridge, upcoming events, research, community conversations and opportunities to get involved.

Every follow, share and conversation helps us reach more people. You can find us on Facebook, LinkedIn and X.

Let's connect!..

16/06/2026

We felt it would be wrong not to acknowledge that today, 16 June 2026, is the tenth anniversary of the murder of Jo Cox.

Jo Cox was the MP for Batley and Spen. She was a mother, daughter, sister and partner. She was a campaigner, activist and humanitarian. She had worked for most of her life in overseas aid working politics before becoming an MP in 2015. She was a former Chair of the Labour Women’s Network. She fought for the rights of women and children, directing the Maternal Mortality Campaign with Sarah Brown.

Jo is also remembered for speaking out against division in her first speech in the House of Commons “We are far more united and have far more in common with each other than that which divides us”.

At a time when division and hatred in UK society appears to be increasing, we would all do well to remember Jo’s wise words.

10/06/2026

What did 2026 elections tell us?

Progress Is Possible. Progress May Reverse. The Pipeline Remains Broken.

1. Wales shows that progress is possible.
2. Scotland reminds us that progress cannot be taken for granted.
3. England highlights a pipeline that remains stubbornly unequal...

The lesson? Representation is contingent, not guaranteed.

Our latest 👉 https://www.elect-her.org.uk/blog/2026elections

08/06/2026

The Mayor is holding an event this Wednesday on women’s safety on public transport, taking place on Wednesday 10 June from 6pm to 7pm at Whitley Bay Big Local (doors open from 5.30pm).

This is an opportunity to share experiences, raise concerns, and help shape future action to make public transport safer for women and girls across our region.

Tickets are free but you need to book your place on Eventbrite.

Join North East Mayor Kim McGuinness for a local conversation on transport issues affecting women and girls