Introduction

The Stepping Forward Steering Group exists under the auspices of the City of Wakefield Metropolitan District Council. 

This document fulfils two functions, to clearly state:-

• The aims of the group, its ethos and principles, its Terms of Reference
• An Operational Framework, setting out how the group operates, how its decisions are made and the procedures which should be followed to ensure that business is efficient, transparent and accountable.

Terms of Reference

The aims of the Stepping Forward Initiative are:-

1. To assist the organisation in working towards the realisation of the economic potential and business benefits that women contribute to the workforce and our communities.
2. To achieve proportionate representation of women across the profile of the organisation – representative of the people we are here to serve.
3. To encourage and empower women to actively participate in public life.
4. To enable women to develop their knowledge, confidence and experience in order to reach their full potential.
5. To motivate change within the organisational culture and to promote flexibility, through initiatives such as work life balance, in order to eliminate discrimination, exclusion and injustice towards women.
6. To influence local and national policies and strategies by articulating the issues and needs of women in areas such as health, education, social well-being, safety, terms and conditions of employment and equal pay.
7. To develop effective networks, at local and national levels, sharing and disseminating good practice and learning from the experience of others.
8. To invest in an environment which promotes creativity in pursuit of the Council's aim to continuously improve service delivery.