Guest Blogger: The Power of the Pen

Alison Judd (Methodist Women in Britain), Marissa Begonia (Justice for Domestic Workers), Diana Holland (UNITE), Catherine Kenny (Kalayaan), Owen Tudor (TUC), Jonathan Blagbrough (Children Unite)

Introducing our guest blogger Alison Judd who is World Federation Area Officer for Methodist Women in Britain and who has tirelessly campaigned on Children Unite's SEND your gLOVE campaign: 

Are you one of those who sent postcards or wrote a letter to Vince Cable or your local MP asking our government to ratify the International Labour Organization’s  Convention on Domestic Workers (C 189)? Perhaps you signed one of the 1242 Fair Trade rubber gloves that were handed over to Tessa Munt MP at the Department of Business Innovations and Skills (BIS) in Westminster on  8 July 2013. Well the good news is that Vince Cable took notice and invited representatives from Children Unite (Jonathan Blagbrough) and Methodist Women in Britain (me) along with others from the TUC, UNITE, and other concerned NGOs to a round table meeting about the protection of domestic workers. This took place at the BIS Department on Wednesday 12 February.

There were around 15 of us in all and we were given half and hour to make our views known.  I felt I was there as a ‘concerned member of the public’ and more particularly, as it stated on my large table- top name label, representing Methodist Women in Britain. Vince Cable’s opening remarks showed he didn’t see the point of the C 189 believing there are already sufficient laws in place offering protection to domestic workers and that this Convention would require government inspections of private homes. He told us that a new Modern Anti-slavery Bill is being drafted (by Karen Bradley MP, who was also present) and invited us to identify the gaps in existing legislation so they could be addressed. He even suggested that he wanted to see how the Convention worked in other countries before agreeing to sign up to it ourselves. Owen Tudor (from the TUC) was quick to challenge him on that saying the UK government should not rely on other countries to test out such legislation for us but should take reponsibility and exercise leadership.

We told Vince Cable we disagreed with his assessment of the Convention and of the ability of existing legislation to protect vulnerable domestic workers; that domestic worker agencies are not properly regulated, and should not be exempt from health and safety issues. He appeared to listen carefully to what we were saying and he certainly made sure that everyone there had a chance to speak.  In fact he chaired the meeting as I would have expected: firmly and expertly. I sensed there was a sort of protocol that everyone was observing (even in my case without knowing what the protocol was!) Anyway, it was pretty clear when it was my turn to speak and I had my mini- speech  prepared!  

Since we were encouraged to identify the gaps in existing legislation, I suggested that one of the gaps involved the protection of children. I urged the BIS to realise that implementing the C189 would effectively address the needs of vulnerable child domestic workers who need even more protection from abuse and injustice than adults. I also hope Vince got the message that Methodist Women in Britain, being in connexion with 61 million Methodists world wide, are a force to be reckoned with!

Keep writing!

Alison Judd

World Federation Area Officer, Methodist Women in Britain

Thanks to Audrey Guichon of Anti-Slavery International who also attended the meeting at BIS and took the photo!

"I'm not a charity you know!"

As I’m writing this at the beginning of January after a 5 days in a cottage in the middle of Wales with no TV (yes I said no TV!! – my daughters were horrified!) I’ve had a bit of time to reflect on the year.  And, I’m ashamed to say that I’ve realised I’m a bit apologetic when it comes to presenting Children Unite to the world.  I’ve realized that when I explain Children Unite to ‘the wider public’ I use an apologetic tone and something like ‘you know we’re very, very small’ or, ‘we’re not your typical charity’.

But I’ve been meeting up with an executive coach, who has got to know my way of thinking, the values I hold dear and the vision I have for Children Unite and at our last meeting she summarized all this for me.  I was inspired by her description of Children Unite, she talked of us being ‘cutting edge’ and ‘not tied down to old systems’– but this depiction felt in contrast to my own explanations!  How odd?!  So, I’ve been reflecting on this over the holidays and feel the need to share a few of my reflections.

So, everyone’s typical view of us as a ‘charity’ is that we raise money, which we send to local organisations who provide shelter, education and support for child domestic workers.  Essentially the ‘charity’ is a fundraising organisation for others.  But this is not what we do – tempting as it has been in difficult times to apply for funding that would make us take on this role. We want to work in equal partnership with local organisations and, preferably, in partnership with children from these local organisations i.e. who are traditionally termed as ‘the beneficiaries’.  Which, in the international development sector is rather a revolutionary approach and very difficult to actually achieve.

We are setting up a Technical Advice Service for other charities – advising them on how to work with child domestic workers, how to improve their services – and this runs like a consultancy business. We charge a daily fee for our advice. Those working in the development or rights sector are used to this – as most charities have to contract ‘consultants’ at some point for specific tasks that require specialist expertise – for example making an evaluation of their services.  However, explaining this to ‘the public’ is harder because ‘charity’ has become synonymous with providing services for free. You’ve all heard the expression “I’m not a charity you know” from someone who wants payment!

By 2015 we envisage that our Technical Advice Service will fund our advocacy work and are currently recruiting Trustees to help us realise this goal. But, in the meantime, I am looking for organisations that will fund projects where – for example, we support and promote local campaigns that have been devised by the children themselves.

So, in the spirit of resolutions – I am resolved not to be apologetic about Children Unite, I am proud that Children Unite does not fit the usual mould.  It is a cutting edge organisation that, in collaboration with children themselves, fights for their rights and helps them to improve their world….or something like that, I’m still working on the wording but, now, the heart is there!!