‘From nuns to punks, both challenge stereotypes of womanhood’

In order to make women’s equality in Bristol a reality, Bristol Women’s Voice (BWV) have set up The Wonderful Women Awards to champion the great women in our city trying to make a difference. 

BWV is a membership organisation free to join and this year they are working on a series of events from their Deeds Not Words programme to mark 100 years of women getting the vote. 

Kate Brooks known locally as ‘Mrs Fishponds’ is one of the winners receiving her award for her efforts as a community activist in Fishponds.

The local youth club, FishFest and the scarecrow trail are just some of the many projects that Kate has set up. She is also one of the founders of Poverty is Pants and has raised funds for various local charities through the People’s University of Fishponds.

Amongst her busy schedule she found time to answer some of our questions.

Bristol Women’s Voice award winner Kate Brooks 

What advice would you give your younger self?

Don’t worry about what people think of you! And equally, don’t assume those in charge know what’s best. Ask lots of awkward questions and keep asking them, especially when people look like they want you to be quiet. Always eat your tea before going to the pub, and drink more water.

Which women have inspired you?

Weirdly, even though I hated it at the time, my primary school nuns. They were scary women with sharp tempers and it was pretty grim, but at an all-girls’ school taught by women, it never occurred to me that women weren’t capable of being clever, having opinions and running things.

I remember being a bit perturbed at secondary school that girls seemed to have to pretend to be a bit daft to attract boys. I am still perturbed by that! I think also, even though I am not religious whatsoever, it’s possibly where my drive to community activism comes from, as these were the kind of nuns who were always off on mopeds doing community work. I was a teenager in the 80s so it’d be nuns, and female punks: both challenging in their own very different ways the stereotypes of womanhood and femininity

What do you want to see change for women in Bristol?

I’d like to see more female activists. Historically, it’s usually women who volunteer in their communities and it still is – running the foodbanks, the playgroups, the old people’s lunch clubs. Those women see what effect this Government has on the marginalised and vulnerable and that’s how people who may not think of themselves as political campaigners become active. I want to see more angry old ladies on the streets campaigning! More nice mums on protest marches! Historically, we’ve seen how that generates real change.

Is there anything that you have been read, seen or listened to recently which has inspired you?

All of our speakers at The People’s University of Fishponds. Recently we’ve invited in some excellent inspirational people, such as Borderlands, Drag Queen Storytime and Bristol Radical History Group, and they come to share their expertise with our community for nothing more than a cuppa and a bun.

Are there three words you would use to describe your local community?

Friendly, active, eccentric. Fishponds is a bit bonkers in a lovely way, lots of ‘green’ campaigns, positive networks and community activism and everyone is very supportive of each other. I love it.

What hopes do you have for your local community in 2018?

Ideally that we don’t have a massive drive through McDonalds in our midst. The way they ran roughshod over the council and community objections has worrying implications for other residential areas, but we did our best to stop it…

Photo credit: Evoke images

Keep an eye out next Friday for another interview with another wonderful woman.

Find out more about Bristol Women’s Voice and their Wonderful Women Award’s online: www.bristolwomensvoice.org.uk