Women’s Resource Centre Feminist Leadership training.
The Women’s Resource Centre (WRC) is a national umbrella organisation for the women’s sector in the UK. WRC supports women’s organisation’s to become more effective, sustainable, and influential. They run a series of courses, training sessions and events across the year including the three-day Feminist Leadership Training Programme,
The Course
The Women’s Resource Centre’s Feminist Leadership Training hopes to support women to lead with confidence, inclusivity, and a commitment to social justice. It aims to challenge traditional leadership models and promote feminist values including collaboration, emotional intelligence, and equity. Offered in-person and online, the training aims to equip participants with practical leadership skills grounded in feminist theory.
Content included: feminist theory and leadership principles, power and privilege, emotional intelligence and self-awareness, equity, diversity, and inclusion, practical leadership skills and community application
Erin Parker Leonard, Represent Women’s Director of Policy and Advocacy, attended the course in May 2025, and was pleased to meet Abby Dowson there, Children and Young People’s Lead at ARCH in Teesside, who was in the same training cohort.
Abby shared,
‘Our mission at Arch is to provide quality care, support, help and guidance to all those affected by sexual violence in Teesside, through advocacy, play therapy and counselling. We’re also passionate about our prevention work, delivering education to children and young people and influencing change. Our Hope for Change project supports young women aged 16-25 to influence change in mental health services.
Through co-production our young women’s partition worker helps to build confidence and skills. Our most recent cohort of young women have recently launched a film as part of mental health awareness week, focusing specifically on the language mental health professionals use and how this can have a lasting effect. We want to ensure Children and Young people’s voices are heard.’
Abby said of the course,
‘It has been a privilege to attend the feminist leadership training. I am proud to be taking this tool kit back to the North East where I can share all my learning with my team and organisation, which in turn will benefit our clients and those affected by sexual violence.
Represent Women’s reflections
Erin felt the course was not only a great way to explore feminist practice but also a valuable opportunity to meet other women from across the UK working in similar fields.
‘The trainers Inderjit and Tebussum created a safe and comfortable space for women from organisations across the country and from different women and girls sector organisations to learn, contemplate and grow in our roles as feminist leaders.
We will be exploring ways to bring this training to the North East women and girls sector organisations if there is an appetite from our members.
The topics were varied and every moment gave us food for thought and a safe space for contemplation. I am returning to the North East with ideas, resources and tools to use. I believe in what we are doing at Represent Women and this course has given me even more fire in my belly as we go into our 2nd year of existence.
It has been amazing meeting so many other inspirational women too! There is no avoiding that women working in the women and girls sector are busy….very busy. Please take time to refill your cup!’
Find out more about the training here:
Feminist Leadership Training for Your Organisation | Women’s Resource Centre