Network focused on the most marginalised women of the North East proves power of locally led change

The Transforming Together Network has published a report highlighting the positive impact regional and devolved government, public services, and frontline organisations can make for women and girls experiencing severe disadvantage – if supported to work together.

The network, which is based in the North East, is a coalition of frontline practitioners spanning women’s (including specialist by-and-for) services, housing, criminal justice and public health, working alongside women with lived experience, local decision-makers such as Police Crime Commissioners, and representatives from local authorities, Integrated Care Boards and the prison service.

Across the last year, the network has made significant impact, including: influencing Sunderland’s Violence Against Women and Girls’ strategy, and Durham's Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC) Victims strategy; guiding and helping to coordinate a review of existing commissioning principles for key public sector bodies working across Northumbria; and creating recommendations to improve women's access to safe refuge accommodation. The network has become a trusted space where decision-makers, specialist organisations, and women with experience of multiple unmet needs can meet and collaborate on solutions as equals.

Its report, ‘Meeting the unmet need for women: a networked model for shifting power and changing systems in the North East’ details its approach, offering a scaleable model for how place-based networks can harness the power and vital expertise of local communities to tackle entrenched patterns of gendered inequality. It also sets out the network’s seven recommendations for continuing to drive forward change for the most disadvantaged women across the North East.

The network was formed in response to ‘Dismantling Disadvantage’ (2023), a report, published by the charity Agenda Alliance in partnership with Changing Lives, which found women in the North East were almost twice as likely to die early as a result of domestic homicide, suicide, or addiction than their peers elsewhere in England and Wales.

The research found that failures by public services to provide appropriate support, compounded by poor co-ordination across different sectors and agencies, was a contributing factor. It served as an urgent wake-up call for ‘levelling up’ efforts to combat regional inequality and a post-code lottery for support.

Agenda Alliance, a charity which campaigns to change systems and services to better meet the needs of women and girls experiencing multiple forms of disadvantage, subsequently secured funding from the Smallwood Trust to convene a local network which could explore how to tackle this gendered inequality in the North East.

Across the last year, the network has established itself as a valuable hub for collaboration, securing the backing of regional Mayor, Kim McGuinness. It is swiftly becoming the go-to network for commissioners, funders, and policymakers across the region seeking insight into inequalities affecting women.

Nadine Smith, Executive Director for Government, Strategy and External Affairs at Social Finance, and the network’s independent chair, says:

“The sombre findings of the Dismantling Disadvantages report laid bare the stark reality facing too many women in the North East, but the Transforming Together Network offers the opportunity to change that narrative.

We want systems change, not systems flex. By working together, and thanks to Smallwood’s funding, we saw data, commissioning and a collective voice led by people with lived experience as the reoccurring challenges or gaps preventing sustainable systems change in the region. Our members have left competitiveness at the door to focus on each of these priorities and we are grateful to them.

We now have a shared story, a strong partnership and, with consistent funding, we can keep driving forward powerful outcomes for women across the region because there is much still to be done and because women of the North East deserve better.”

Indy Cross, CEO of Agenda Alliance, said:

“Too often research shines a light on issues but does not lead to tangible change. I’m proud that Agenda Alliance has been able to play a part in bringing together a motivated local network, who have demonstrated huge commitment to acting on the findings of Dismantling Disadvantage. Together, they are making change for women who have been overlooked for far too long.

Agenda Alliance exists to advocate for a cross-sector, inclusive, approach to solving the interconnected needs of women, and Transforming Together offers such a powerful model of this in practice. It also proves the critical importance of harnessing local expertise to develop workable solutions; this network understands the North East because they live and breathe it. They have achieved so much already, and it’s crucial their work is supported to continue.”

Anna, an expert by experience network member, said:

“It has been such a privilege to be a member of the Transforming Together network. As an expert by experience, it has given me greater insight into services which operate in silos and therefore don’t always provide adequate support to women at their time of greatest need and vulnerability. 

The network has highlighted the challenges and opportunities of collaboration. Without the voice of women with lived experience the gaps and unmet needs go unnoticed, and opportunities are missed. 

I believe we have established strong foundations which I hope can be built upon so ultimately services are designed for, and in collaboration with, those who need and use them.”

Susan Dungworth, Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, said:

"I welcome this important report highlighting the disadvantages faced by too many women here in the North East. These challenges cannot be ignored — and I want to thank the dedicated network of organisations and individuals working tirelessly to address them and bring about lasting change. Their efforts are vital in helping to break down stigma, remove barriers, and empower women who have too often felt held back or unheard.

“As Police and Crime Commissioner, I remain committed to supporting this work wherever possible. Through my Police and Crime Plan for safer streets and stronger communities I want to make sure we are doing all we can so that every woman has the opportunity to live free from fear, disadvantage, or discrimination."

Lisa Davis, Managing Director of Changing Relations, a professional network member says:

“It's been commented in the last couple of meetings that the space we have collectively created is one of nurture, transformational in part by virtue of the very way we are working together.

In an economic climate that can breed a scarcity culture of protecting our own organisational survival, it is radical to come together and share and explore what we can do in collaboration.

There has been an emphasis on equality, an erasure of the culture of hierarchy and deference, an invitation to show up as your full self, the encouragement to dream and imagine, an embrace of the power of creativity to support these values. So many wonderful women have been a part of this and are still giving their time to make sure that the space we have created continues into the future.”