Penny Bowden's Page

What issues are most important to you?

Inequality, child cruelty, my faith, environmental issues, animal cruelty, substance abuse - alcohol and drugs, poverty, family and friends.

What kind of social activism do you engage in?

Church, Christian Aid, Comic Relief

What organizations do you love or work with?

Longbridge Methodist Church, Greenbelt, Riding Lights, Christian Aid

What books, music, films, etc. do you think educate and empower women?

Gladys Aylward and Corrie Ten Boom amaze me - such strong women despite the dreadful adversities they faced in a time when women were still meant to be seen and not heard.

Career: what do you do or want to do?

Currently Civil Servant - Access to Work adviser but aim is to run my own business as an Independent Distributor with Forever Living Products. I have also just started as a consultant for Partylite candles so have 2 strings to my bow of becoming self employed and responsible for my own income!!

What skills and interests to do you have to offer to others in the Red Tent Women's Project communty? This is your chance, so sell yourself!

Willing to help at anything within my capabilities - fundraising, driving, cake baking, etc. Am in a church panto every year so not afraid of looking silly! Can offer product, facial and foot/handspa parties with Aloe based natural and organically grown products for a fun evening. Can now also do candle parties for you!

What would you like other members of this community to know? About yourself, about the world...anything (try not to be profane, though)!

Married for nearly 30 yrs, not always smoothly, with 2 chn - 23 yr old daughter still at home (did leave for Uni but came back!!) and a 21 yr old son living with his girlfriend and her 2 chn, and 3 cats. Developing a business that is going to let me live the life I have always dreamed off with Forever Living Products - amazing products that have reduced my pain and stiffness and increased my energy levels significantly so that I can do things again!! The phrase I love from them is "DON'T SHRINK YOUR DREAMS TO FIT YOUR INCOME; EXPAND YOUR INCOME TO FIT YOUR DREAMS!' It's not a get rich quick scheme and you have to work at it - and that's where I'm falling down at the moment. I am also a consultant for Partylite candles - I've loved them for years as they are the only candles I can burn without affecting my asthma - so finally agreed to sign up. There's a lot of me to love and I make the best of what I've got as I don't lose it that easily - not that I starve myself that much because it's too hard!! LOL! Qualified as a teacher but worked for Jobcentre Plus for over 27 years - and now can't wait to get out of it! Like artisitic tyhings but not very good at them - although I do try!

What was your "women really matter and I'm going to do something about it" moment?

Don't know that I've particulary had one as I was brought up by a very strong woman who believed that we could do whatever we wanted to and let nothing stand in her way - she still rides a bike at 80 despite people telling her she shouldn't!!