Empowering women in 2012: Helen Tomblin starts our series

Last month Kira Cochrane asked 'where are the women?' in the Guardian, pointing out how public life is dominated by men - from Question Time, to the Today programme, through politics, sport and the media, a theme picked up in the editorial of the same paper a few days ago. Last week the inclusion of a female panda in BBC's women of the year, after their all-male SPOTY shortlist, highlighted the fact that they just don't get it and shows they won't be making changes any time soon.

So in 2012, we want to see more women taking their place in the public square and in the church - leading, speaking, innovating, directing, contributing, shaping, challenging and being agents of change. How will that happen? Part of the answer is to see women empowered to follow their calling - being given opportunities, being challenged to step up to the mark, being encouraged to learn and grow, being equipped for the task ahead of them. During January, we're going to post a story each day from a woman who has been empowered by someone else. And we want to encourage you to consider how you can empower the women around you to be part of the solution, and then to get on and do it!

Helen Tomblin, DYO of Birmingham and founder of The Laughing Sole Comedy Club starts our series. 

'I first met Fran Hobbs (as she was then) in the summer of 1991, just over 20 years ago now. She was my dorm leader on my first ever CYFA Venture in Colwyn Bay which I attended at the age of 17. In my childhood, my school reports used to say, ‘ Helen needs to learn to speak up more.’ When thanking adult  friends and neighbours for Christmas presents, my brother would verbally thank them, I however would not open my mouth but simply thrust a letter in their hands! My grandfather always used to say that Colwyn Bay was the making of me and where the shyness ended. Fran Hobbs was a huge part of the start of that transformation and God at work in me, through her.

I am trying to identify now, 20 years on what Fran offered that had such a significant impact on me and the person I have become. One of the things that strikes me is that despite being a confident up-front leader she was also willing to give other things a go that she was not so skilled at in order to build relationships (windsurfing springs to mind!) She modeled to me a give-it-a-go attitude that even if you fail, even if a wave knocks you off the board and you lose your breath for a moment, life is to be lived to the full and embraced no matter what the knocks and through it deeper relationships are built and meaningful conversations can happen.

Fran modeled that even further when the knocks came in my life… Fran was the first person I had talked to about suspicions that my parents had problems with their marriage. When I got home from Colwyn Bay family life started to fall apart and Fran was there in Thame, Oxfordshire supporting me through it. She read my epic letters expressing my deepest pain and struggle, and boy were they epic!! And more than just reading them she even replied! (Those were they days eh? The lost art of letter writing!) Not only did she organise a dorm reunion, but she also invited me to stay for a weekend. In today’s youth work we might question those boundaries now, but then I knew that Fran loved me beyond the call of duty and that is exactly what I needed. She cared about me, supported me, encouraged me and believed in me. She nurtured in my something of the person God had called me to be.

So Fran, for me, was so very much more than a leader on a youth camp for 10 days in 1991. The relationship and friendship extended well beyond that. I remember her tears and vulnerability when her and her now husband split up, then my delight at going to their wedding a few years later (my first non-family wedding). Fran shared with me something of her struggles and joys and a very real lived out faith despite the ups and downs of life. Fran showed me an honesty and integrity of life that I try to model today as I now do youth work. She also believed in me, valued who I was and the potential she saw in me. It is 20 years on and I am still thanking God for Fran Hobbs.'

Comments

[Jo Royal]

This is a great post to begin 2012 with :) I have been encouraged and challenged to work more intentionally at empowering those I lead - and recognise the huge importance of modelling an 'integrity of life' whilst doing so. Also - believing in, valuing, and recognising their potential is vital if young people (or anyone) are to be encouraged to step out and fully be who they were created to be. Hearing 'you can do it, and I will be right there with you as you do' has huge potential to not only change a person's life - but change the world!! (Might as well dream big!!!)

Looking forward to reading more posts in this series :) Thank you!

[Sheila bridge]

Thank you. It's very encouraging and moving to read how one person can have such a positive impact on another and not by knowing all the answers or being good at everything but by simply being there and being vulnerable too.

[stf]

Still reeling by the inclusion of that panda in the BBCs list

fabulous to read about women mentoring girls and making all the difference - like in the story of Helen Tomblin

Like Jo (above) i look forward to reading more about women to inspire us!

[Jane Stephenson]

Helen what a lovely testimony. Great to see the evidence of the lasting and deep influence that leaders on residential camps can have on young people. There is nothing to compare with the care and individual attention that a leader can lavish on the young people when they have the space and time to do so, which is an integral part of residential ministry like CYFA camps and what makes them so effective. And the investment goes on giving!